title: Degradation of selected (bio-)surfactants by bacterial cultures monitored by calorimetric methods.
abstract: The subjects of the article are investigations concerning the ability of both Rhodococcus opacus 1CP and mixed bacterial cultures to use selected surfactants as sole carbon and energy source. In a comparative manner the biosurfactants rhamnolipid, sophorolipid and trehalose tetraester, and the synthetic surfactant Tween 80 were examined. Particular emphasis was put on a combinatorial approach to determine quantitatively the degree of surfactant degradation by applying calorimetry, thermodynamic calculations and mass spectrometry, HPLC as well as determination of biomass. The pure bacterial strain R. opacus was only able to metabolize a part of the synthetic surfactant Tween 80, whereas the mixed bacterial cultures degraded all of the applied surfactants. Exclusive for the biosurfactant rhamnolipid a complete microbial degradation could be demonstrated. In the case of the other surfactants only primary degradation was observed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lissner
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winkelmann
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hüttl
authors.forename: Florian O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: Stefan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kaschabek
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlömann
mesh_terms: D002151:Calorimetry / Q000379:methods*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014199:Trehalose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006017:Glycolipids; D011136:Polysorbates; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C418382:rhamnolipid; D014199:Trehalose