Biosurfactant production by <b> <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> </b> GS3 from molasses

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa GS3 produces rhamnolipid biosurfactants during growth on molasses and cornsteep liquor as the primary carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. After 96 h of growth the culture supernatant fluid had a rhamnose concentration of 0·24 g l−1 and reduced the interfacial tension against crude oil from 21 mN m−1 to 0·47 mN m−1. The rhamnolipids were able to form stable emulsions with n‐alkanes, aromatics, crude oil and olive oil. These studies indicate that renewable, relatively inexpensive and easily available resources can be used for important biotechnological processes.