Biosurfactant production on air lift bench reactor

Abstract

This work aimed to investigate the biosurfactant production by Bacillus subtiulis ICA56 (isolated from a Brazilian mangrove) on air lift bench reactor, and evaluate its properties as a tensoative. Even though all biosurfactants advantages over chemical surfactants, the large scale production of biosurfactant is usually limited to the over production of foam, causing a possible product loss. Air lift bench reactor is an option for this issue. So, this reactor apparatus has been applied for biosurfactant production by Bacillus subtilis ICA56. Aeration and pH control have showed a straightforward relation with biosurfactant production. It has been produced around 1,92 g.L-1 of lipopeptide biosurfactant, and a completely O2 consumption, after 33 hours of assay, using aeration about 4L.min-1. It has also been observed a reduction on surface tension about 42% during the cultivation, reaching about 31 mN.m-1, showing its efficiency as a tensoative.