Potential application of cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactants produced by Bacillus subtilis strains in laundry detergent formulations.
OBJECTIVE
Crude cyclic lipopeptide (CLP) biosurfactants from two Bacillus subtilis strains (DM-03 and DM-04) were studied for their compatibility and stability with some locally available commercial laundry detergents.


RESULTS
CLP biosurfactants from both B. subtilis strains were stable over the pH range of 7.0-12.0, and heating them at 80 degrees C for 60 min did not result in any loss of their surface-active property. Crude CLP biosurfactants showed good emulsion formation capability with vegetable oils, and demonstrated excellent compatibility and stability with all the tested laundry detergents.


CONCLUSIONS
CLP biosurfactants from B. subtilis strains act additively with other components of the detergents to further improve the wash quality of detergents. The thermal resistance and extreme alkaline pH stability of B. subtilis CLP biosurfactants favour their inclusion in laundry detergent formulations.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has great significance because it is already known that microbial biosurfactants are considered safer alternative to chemical or synthetic surfactants owing to lower toxicity, ease of biodegradability and low ecological impact. The present study provides further evidence that CLP biosurfactants from B. subtilis strains can be employed in laundry detergents.
Mukherjee
A K
AK
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam, India. akm@tezu.ernet.in
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003902:Detergents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D045703:Emulsifying Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature
D003902:Detergents; D045703:Emulsifying Agents; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D013501:Surface-Active Agents