Rhamnolipid biosurfactant from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: From discovery to application in contemporary technology

Abstract

The rhamnolipids are most likely the next generation of biosurfactants which will reach the market. They should follow closely after alkyl polyglycosides, already established in the biosurfactants market, and sophorolipids, which can be found in several cleaning agents. However, the greatest number of recent publications and patents among glycolipid biosurfactants has been dedicated to rhamnolipids. Produced mainly by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, rhamnolipids are mixtures of different rhamnolipid congeners, which show physico-chemical properties that differ from those of single congeners, with the most abundant structure in the mixture having the largest impact on the overall characteristics of the total mixture. Characteristics of biodegradability, low toxicity, production from renewable sources and antimicrobial (particularly antifungal) activity together make rhamnolipid biosurfactants particularly promising for broad commercial application. Although to date, bioremediation has been the major topic filed for patents utilizing rhamnolipids, an increasing number of patents for applications in cosmetics, agronomy and food industries, formulation of cleaners and nanotechnology indicates their future implementation in these fields.