title: Biotechnological opportunities in biosurfactant production.
abstract: In the recent years, biosurfactants proved to be an interesting alternative to petrochemically derived surfactants. Two classes of biosurfactants, namely glycolipids and lipopeptides, have attracted significant commercial interest. Despite their environmental advantages and equal performance, commercialization of these molecules remains a challenge due to missing acquaintance of the applicants, higher price and lack of structural variation. The latter two issues can partially be tackled by screening for novel and better wild-type producers and optimizing the fermentation process. Yet, these traditional approaches cannot overcome all hurdles. In this review, an overview is given on how biotechnology offers opportunities for increased biosurfactant production and the creation of new types of molecules, in this way enhancing their commercial potential.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Expertise for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Geys
authors.affiliation: Centre of Expertise for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Soetaert
authors.affiliation: Centre of Expertise for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: Inge.VanBogaert@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Van Bogaert
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D055666:Lipopeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006017:Glycolipids; D055666:Lipopeptides; D013501:Surface-Active Agents