Evaluation of microbial surfactants for recovery of hydrophobic pollutants from soil

Abstract

Several microbially produced biosurfactants were evaluated for their ability to remove hydrophobic compounds from soil. The biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG2 and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 displayed the best results, with recovery of [ 14C]hexachtorobiphenyl from soil slurries of 48.0 and 41.9~o, respectively. P. aeruginosa UG2 produced higher levels of extracellular biosurfactants than four other P. aeruginosa strains. P. aeruginosa UG2 culture filtrate containing biosurfactants enhanced the recovery of several other individual hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyl compounds, as well as several hydrocarbons in a mixture, from soil. The results suggest that biosurfactants produced by P. aeruginosa UG2 have the potential for remediation of hydrophobic pollutants in soil environments.