Application of Recent Omics Achievements in Bioremediation Processes Illustrated by Progress in Microbial Surfactants Commercialization
Katarzyna Paraszkiewicz, Jerzy Długoński and Dariusz Trzmielak
from: Microbial Biodegradation: From Omics to Function and Application (Edited by: Jerzy Długoński). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2016) Pages: 219-232.
Abstract
This section comprises a critical analysis of microbial surfactant commercialization. Petroleum-derived active surface agents (synthetic surfactants) are applicable in various industrial sectors but pose significant environmental risks. In comparison with synthetic equivalents, microbial surfactants are environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and less toxic, as well as exhibit higher surface activity and selectivity; however, they are still too expensive to compete on the market. However, available reports forecast an increased share of biosurfactants as market products. Progress in biosurfactants commercialization (coupled with a better understanding of the roles of these compounds in microbial physiology and in biodegradation processes) results from advances in cell and molecular biology (e.g., genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics) read more ...
