Marine Microbial Biosurfactants: Ecological and Environmental Applications

The application of microbial biosurfactants in environmental technologies is gaining interest due to growing environmental concerns. Recently, immense attention is given to the environmental issues caused by synthetic surfactants owing to their toxicity and complexity in being decomposed in the environment. Microbial biosurfactants are promising because of their biodegradability, low toxicity, and efficacy in increasing biodegradation and solubilization of insoluble compounds at extreme environmental conditions. These molecules are impending substitutes for chemical surfactants in various industrial and environmental applications, such as lubrication, wetting, softening, emulsion forming, stabilization of dispersions, anti-foaming, enhanced oil recovery, as well as bioremediation of oil, heavy metals, pesticides, and organic/inorganic contaminants. The current review emphasizes a comprehensive overview on the environmental applications of biosurfactants and their role in various environmental processes.