FACTORS AFFECTING THE RHAMNOLIPID BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCTION

Abstract

Rhamnolipids are the best studied glycolipids having excellent surface activity. Their
utilization in various application areas of environment, health, food, cosmetic, oil industry etc., have
made it the potential candidates that could replace the chemically synthesized surfactants because
these are derived from the natural source, in a pure form and they have low toxicity levels. The
production of rhamnolipids dependent on several environmental and nutritional factors and the
highest yield of rhamnolipids are estimated at 6 g/L with specific parameters. Effects of multivalent
ions, nutritional factors and environmental conditions are described by many researchers to find out
its enhanced production (Desai and Banat, 1997). In this mini review, some nutritional,
environmental and compositional factors are studied and estimated that how the production of
rhamnolipids enhanced and which kind of effects these factors have on its production.