Characterisation of Biosurfactant-Producing Micro-Organisms

The book focuses on the isolation and characterisation of biosurfactant-producing microorganisms from oil-contaminated soil. Biosurfactants are biodegradable compounds that reduce surface tension and enhance hydrocarbon degradation. Microorganisms isolated from oil-contaminated soil were screened using hemolysis, drop collapse, oil spreading, and emulsification tests. Potent isolates mainly belonged to Pseudomonas and Bacillus species. The study also evaluated factors affecting biosurfactant production, such as pH and temperature. In addition, the isolates exhibited antagonistic activity against selected phytopathogenic microorganisms, indicating their antifungal potential. The produced biosurfactants showed good stability and hydrocarbon degradation ability. The thesis concludes that oil-contaminated soils are valuable sources of biosurfactant-producing microorganisms with applications in bioremediation, environmental management, and industrial biotechnology.