title: Production of rhamnolipid surfactant and its application in bioscouring of cotton fabric.
abstract: In the present study, a biosurfactant was synthesized by using a bacterial strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in minimal media provided with n-heptadecane as sole carbon source under shake-flask conditions. The biosurfactant was isolated (by acid precipitation, solvent extraction, and rotary evaporation), purified (by column chromatography and TLC), identified (by FAB-MS, FTIR, and 1D-(1)H NMR), and chemo-physical characterized (by tensiometry). Two principal rhamnolipid congeners were identified as dirhamnolipid RRC10C10 and monorhamnolipid RC10C10 with a CMC of 50mg/L. The biosurfactant, hence produced, was applied in sole and in combination with pectinase in scouring of cotton fabric in contrast to conventional scouring agents of NaOH and anionic surfactant SDS. The scoured cotton fabric was investigated for its weight loss, residual oil and grease, wettability, whiteness, and tensile strength. The results were compared both for conventional and biological approaches. The scouring with biosurfactant plus pectinase was equivalent to or better in efficiency than conventional alkaline scouring. The former process is additionally environmentally friendly and bio-compatible. Scanning electron microscopy of cotton fabric showed that the alkaline scouring deteriorates the fabric texture whereas bioscouring with biosurfactant plus pectinase gently removes hydrophobic impurities from the cotton fabric.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, National Textile University, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan. Electronic address: zarazapk@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zulfiqar Ali
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, National Textile University, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, National Textile University, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Tahir
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, National Textile University, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, National Textile University, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ul Haq
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, National Textile University, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Tahir
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Saddique
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, National Textile University, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amjed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javid
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Research Laboratory, National Textile University, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Niaz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D032561:Cotton Fiber; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006017:Glycolipids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C418382:rhamnolipid
keywords: Bioscouring; Pectinase; Rhamnolipids; Surfactants; Textile