Qualitative Assessment of Indigenous Bacteria Isolated from Oil-Polluted Sources for Their Capability to Produce Biosurfactants | ||
| Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Biotechnology | ||
| Articles in Press, Corrected Proof, Available Online from 18 October 2025 PDF (1.12 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jacb.2025.429454.1125 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Raghda A. Fayed; Dina F. Ali; Eman H. Ashour* | ||
| Microbiology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds produced by microorganisms that serve as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic surfactants due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and production from renewable substrates. Their amphiphilic nature enables them to reduce surface and interfacial tension, emulsify hydrophobic compounds, and enhance the bioavailability of hydrocarbons. These properties make biosurfactants valuable for industrial and environmental applications, including bioremediation of oil-contaminated sites, enhanced oil recovery, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food processing. This study aimed to isolate and characterize biosurfactant-producing bacteria from petroleum oil-polluted soils. Nine samples were collected from Port Said, Gharbia, Dakahlia governorates, and the western desert, as well as artificially polluted soils with used cooking oil and waste engine oil. Isolation was carried out using Bushnell-Haas (BH) and Mineral Salt Medium (MSM), resulting in 63 distinct bacterial isolates. Four techniques were performed for screening biosurfactant producers (drop collapse, oil spreading, emulsification index (E24%), and the CTAB-methylene blue agar plate method). Several isolates exhibited significant biosurfactant activity, with emulsification index values reaching 64% and oil displacement zones up to 2.8 mm, indicating strong surface activity. The drop collapse test confirmed the production of surface-active compounds, whereas no dark blue halos were observed in the CTAB-methylene blue assay, suggesting the absence of detectable anionic biosurfactants under the tested conditions. These findings demonstrate the diversity of indigenous bacterial communities in oil-polluted environments and their potential for sustainable biosurfactant production. The most potent isolates identified in this study represent promising candidates for future optimization and application in bioremediation and various industrial processes. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Bacteria; Biosurfactant; Hydrocarbons; Petroleum oil | ||
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