Mining of biosurfactant producing bacteria from soil
Arpna1, Manoj Kumar2 and Ravi Kumar Rana*1
1Department of Chemistry, 2 Department of Botany, Baba Mastnath University, Asthal Bohar, Rohtak-124021 (Inia) Corresponding Author Email:- arpnakalonia.bimpat@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Biosurfactants are surface active compounds produced by microorganisms. They have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains and can lower the surface tension and the interfacial tension between two liquids or between a liquid and a solid. They have unique properties such as non-toxicity, easy biodegradability, eco-friendliness, high stability, higher foaming, high selectivity and specific activity. Biosurfactants have potential uses in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, pesticide and oil industries. In this study, out of a total of thirty isolates were randomly selected for checking biosurfactant activity. Biosurfactant production was confirmed by oil displacement and drop collapse tests. The Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) and surface tension reduction were analyzed by the tensiometer. The isolate No. 3 was found to have Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) as 60 mg/L and lower the surface tension of water by 35.6 mN/m.