228
by Burkholderia cenocepacia BSP3 evidently improved solubilization of pesticides
like methyl parathion, ethyl parathion, and trifluralin suggesting its role in environmental remediation (Wattanaphon et al. 2008). Kumar et al. (2008) reported biodegradation of α-endosulfan (73%) and β-endosulfan (75%) using a novel strain
Arthrobacter. In another study, Kolekar et al. (2013) showed the biodegradation of
atrazine by Rhodococcus sp. BCH2, which can use this as carbon and nitrogen
source. Similarly, Khessairi et al. (2014) demonstrated the degradation of pentachlorophenol using Actinobacterium janibacter sp. AS23. Sagarkar and his coworkers (2016) reported the degradation of S-triazine by Arthrobacter sp. strain
AK-YN10. More recently, a Pseudomonas sp. strain B0406 was isolated by GarcíaReyes et al. (2017) which increased the solubility of endosulfan and methyl parathion. A glucolipid-type biosurfactant noticeably enhanced pesticide solubilization
suggesting its role in environmental remediation.
8.8 Conclusions
The current review emphasizes various environmental applications of biosurfactants. A variety of metals and chemical contaminants can be removed using biodegradation processes. Exploitation of biosurfactants in field applications does not
require purity grade; thus purification costs may possibly be more moderate.
Nevertheless, efficiency of the process may vary with different structural characteristics of biosurfactants. Future research investigations have to be focused on comparison of effectiveness of various biosurfactants in removal of contaminants. More
information is requisite pertaining to the interactions of biosurfactants with pollutants, relation with structure of biosurfactant, pollutant removal efficiency, and geochemical features of polluted area. Despite this, we still need to obtain more
knowledge on the aspects influencing removal rates of pollutants by various biosurfactants. Merely a few marine biosurfactant-producing microbes have been explored
till date owing to the hurdles related to their isolation and growth. Other promising
isolation methods including culture-independent methods and metagenomic techniques can be explored for the detection of novel biosurfactant producers from
extreme environments.
Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge the University Grants Commission, New
Delhi, Govt. of India for financial support as RGNF-JRF & SRF under the Grant No:
F. 16-1723(SC)/2010/(SA-III).
Conflict of Interest We declare we have no conflict of Interest
K. V. Deepika et al.
by Burkholderia cenocepacia BSP3 evidently improved solubilization of pesticides
like methyl parathion, ethyl parathion, and trifluralin suggesting its role in environmental remediation (Wattanaphon et al. 2008). Kumar et al. (2008) reported biodegradation of α-endosulfan (73%) and β-endosulfan (75%) using a novel strain
Arthrobacter. In another study, Kolekar et al. (2013) showed the biodegradation of
atrazine by Rhodococcus sp. BCH2, which can use this as carbon and nitrogen
source. Similarly, Khessairi et al. (2014) demonstrated the degradation of pentachlorophenol using Actinobacterium janibacter sp. AS23. Sagarkar and his coworkers (2016) reported the degradation of S-triazine by Arthrobacter sp. strain
AK-YN10. More recently, a Pseudomonas sp. strain B0406 was isolated by GarcíaReyes et al. (2017) which increased the solubility of endosulfan and methyl parathion. A glucolipid-type biosurfactant noticeably enhanced pesticide solubilization
suggesting its role in environmental remediation.
8.8 Conclusions
The current review emphasizes various environmental applications of biosurfactants. A variety of metals and chemical contaminants can be removed using biodegradation processes. Exploitation of biosurfactants in field applications does not
require purity grade; thus purification costs may possibly be more moderate.
Nevertheless, efficiency of the process may vary with different structural characteristics of biosurfactants. Future research investigations have to be focused on comparison of effectiveness of various biosurfactants in removal of contaminants. More
information is requisite pertaining to the interactions of biosurfactants with pollutants, relation with structure of biosurfactant, pollutant removal efficiency, and geochemical features of polluted area. Despite this, we still need to obtain more
knowledge on the aspects influencing removal rates of pollutants by various biosurfactants. Merely a few marine biosurfactant-producing microbes have been explored
till date owing to the hurdles related to their isolation and growth. Other promising
isolation methods including culture-independent methods and metagenomic techniques can be explored for the detection of novel biosurfactant producers from
extreme environments.
Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge the University Grants Commission, New
Delhi, Govt. of India for financial support as RGNF-JRF & SRF under the Grant No:
F. 16-1723(SC)/2010/(SA-III).
Conflict of Interest We declare we have no conflict of Interest
K. V. Deepika et al.