Application of biosurfactant in fuel formulation

Abstract Biosurfactant has a wide range of applications. Recently, it has been tested as an alternative to chemical surfactants to formulate fuel emulsion/microemulsion, because these hybrid fuel systems have the advantages of improved fuel properties, enhanced engine performance, and reduced pollutant emissions. Rhamnolipid has received increasing interest in fuel formulation, e.g., the formation of glycerol in diesel or biodiesel microemulsion and bio-oil in diesel or biodiesel microemulsion, because of its outstanding performance. The decreasing production cost and the environmental-friendliness and sustainability merits of biosurfactants will promote its application in fuel formulation in the near future and worth further investigations.