Advancements in Biosurfactants Research

Book excerpt: This book presents numerous uses of biosurfactants as potential alternatives to synthetic surfactants in food, textile, biomedical and therapeutic applications as well as in bioremediation and waste management. Divided into four parts, the book explores a wide range of biosurfactants as sustainable materials, starting with an overview of biosurfactants’ production, in which readers will find topics such as characterization, purification, sustainable production, biodegradation, and cytotoxic aspects of biosurfactants. Part 2 presents the latest applications of biosurfactants in food and textile industries, as well as their application in nanoparticle synthesis, heavy metal remediation, drug absorption, waste treatment, agriculture management, marine sediment remediation of organic pollutants, emulsification and biofuel production, and as anti-corrosive agents. Part 3 traces current biomedical applications of biosurfactants, including their use as biocidal, wound healing, and anti-tumour agents. In this part, readers will also discover further applications of biosurfactants in oral cavity care, and biofilm prevention and disruption. The final part of the book discusses the main advantages and disadvantages of biosurfactants over synthetic surfactants, the current challenges in biosurfactant research, and prospects for their commercialization. This book will be a valuable resource for students, scholars and researchers working in the fields of colloidal and interface science, chemistry and chemical engineering. Professionals and scholars alike will appreciate the latest research findings that it presents.