Role of biopolymers in industries: Their prospective future applications

Abstract

Surfactants are surface-active compounds capable of reducing surface and interfacial tension at interfaces between liquids, solids, and gases, thereby allowing them to mix or disperse readily as emulsions in water or other liquids. The demand for eco-friendly products is high; therefore, an increasing interest in biosurfactants has resulted. Biosurfactants are amphiphilic compounds of microbial origin having advantages in biodegradability and effectiveness at extreme temperatures or pH and in having lower toxicity. These molecules are very effective in various fields nowadays. At present biosurfactants are mainly used in studies on enhanced oil recovery and hydrocarbon bioremediation. The solubilization and emulsification of toxic chemicals by biosurfactants have also been reported. Biosurfactants also have potential applications in agriculture, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, detergents, personal care products, food processing, textile manufacturing, laundry supplies, and the metal treatment and processing, pulp and paper processing, and paint industries.