Authors: Pankaj Kumar Yadav, Rashmi Dubey
Abstract: Biosurfactant-producing microbes have emerged as crucial agents in eco-friendly environmental remediation, particularly for cleaning up oil spills, heavy metal contaminants, and industrial pollutants. These naturally derived surface-active compounds, produced by bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Rhodococcus erythropolis, exhibit high emulsifying activity, low toxicity, and exceptional biodegradability. The focus of this research is to evaluate how microbial biosurfactants contribute to environmental cleaning through mechanisms of emulsification, desorption, and biostimulation. Emphasis is placed on their structural diversity, metabolic pathways, and potential applications in oil spill mitigation, soil washing, and heavy metal recovery. Through a review of current studies, laboratory findings, and emerging field applications, this article investigates the comparative performance of biosurfactants against synthetic surfactants. It also explores genetic and process engineering strategies to enhance biosurfactant yields. The results point toward biosurfactant-driven bioremediation as a promising frontier for sustainable environmental management. The article concludes with future research directions, highlighting bioreactor scalability and regulatory considerations necessary for large-scale deployment. These insights underscore the transformative role of biosurfactant-producing microbes in redefining the future of green technology and environmental restoration.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16871248
