Evaluation of biosurfactant production by Sporosarcina halophila and its application in crude oil remediation

Abstract

Background: Biosurfactants are valuable microbial products that have significant applications in various industries. The advantages of these compounds are biodegradability, low toxicity, activity in difficult environmental conditions, and the ability to produce oil residues and compounds from the surface of seawater and soils contaminated with oil compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of biosurfactants production by Sporosarcina halophila. Methods: For this purpose, to detect the production of biosurfactant by Sporosarcina halophila, quantitative and qualitative screening methods such as hemolysis, oil spreading test and emulsification index test were used. Finally, different concentrations of crude oil in the bacterial growth medium were used to see that this strain can decompose crude oil using biosurfactant production to continue its growth or not. Results: The results showed that this strain is able to produce biosurfactants in oil hemolysis and spreading test with emulsifying activity of more than 30%, indicating that this strain is a suitable strain for biosurfactant production. Also, this strain could grow in the presence of crude oil in its medium as only carbon resource by biosurfactant production. Conclusion: This study showed that the metabolites derived from Sporosarcina halophila strain have emulsifying properties and can be considered as a potent strain in the production of biosurfactants. Also, it was concluded that these biosurfactants are applicable for many different industrial or environmental fields such as bioremediation of crude oil from soil or water by Sporosarcina halophila strain.