Abstract
A comparison is made between synthetic and biosurfactants in terms of their origin, structure, physico-chemical properties, applications, production costs, toxicity, biodegradability and environmental impact. It is shown that the chemical structure of surfactants synthesised by living organisms is more complicated than that of those produced by classical methods. The reduction in water surface tension induced by synthetic and biosurfactants is almost the same. Due to their origin and structure, biosurfactants are preferred in medical, cosmetic and food applications, mainly because they are less toxic than synthetic surfactants. Synthetic surfactants require more time and special environmental conditions to start the biodegradation process compared to biosurfactants, which can easily start biodegradation under normal physical conditions. This mini-review highlights this new category of surfactants (biosurfactants). It also provides a comparison between synthetic and biosurfactants is provided using the available data reported in the literature.
About the author
Prof. Dr. Rami A. Abdel-Rahem was born in 1974 (in As Sarih-Jordan), studied applied chemistry at Jordan University of Science and Technology. He obtained his PhD in 2003 from Bayreuth University (Germany) under supervision of Prof. Dr. Heinz Hoffmann. From 2003 until 2011, he worked as assistant professor of physical chemistry at the university of Al-Margeb (Libya) and at King Faisal University (Saudi Arabia). At 2011, he was promoted to an associate professor at King Faisal University. At 2013, he shifted to University of Petra (Jordan) and there he was promoted to a full professor at 2017. Areas of interest are surfactants properties, rheology, electron microscopy, phase behavior, corrosion, and physical properties of polymer composite.
Acknowledgments
The author acknowledges the Faculty of Scientific Research & Higher Studies at University of Petra for their support.
-
Research ethics: Not applicable.
-
Author contributions: The author has accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
-
Competing interests: The author states no conflict of interest.
-
Research funding: None declared.
-
Data availability: Not applicable.
References
1. Johnson, P., Trybala, A., Starov, V., Pinfield, V. J. Effect of synthetic surfactants on the environment and the potential for substitution by biosurfactants. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 2021, 288, 102340; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2020.102340.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
2. Fernandes, N., Simões, L., Dias, D. Comparison of biodegradability, and toxicity effect of biosurfactants with synthetic surfactants. In Advancements in Biosurfactants Research; Aslam, R., Mobin, M., Aslam, J., Zehra, S., Eds. Springer International Publishing: Cham, 2023; pp. 117–136.10.1007/978-3-031-21682-4_6Search in Google Scholar
3. Jahan, R., Bodratti, A., Tsianou, M., Alexandridis, P. B. Natural alternatives to synthetic surfactants: physicochemical properties and applications. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 2020, 275, 102061; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2019.102061.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
4. Rebello, S., Anoopkumar, A., Sindhu, R., Binod, P., Pandey, A., Aneesh, E. 23-Comparative life-cycle analysis of synthetic detergents and biosurfactants – an overview. In Refining Biomass Residues for Sustainable Energy and Bioproducts; Kumar, P., Gnansounou, E., Raman, J. K., Baskar, G., Eds. Elsevier: Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2020; pp. 511–521.10.1016/B978-0-12-818996-2.00023-5Search in Google Scholar
5. Sharma, J., Sundar, D., Srivastava, P. Advantages and disadvantages of biosurfactants over other synthetic surfactants. In Advancements in Biosurfactants Research; Aslam, R., Mobin, M., Aslam, J., Zehra, S., Eds. Springer International Publishing: Cham, 2023; pp. 505–523.10.1007/978-3-031-21682-4_23Search in Google Scholar
6. Schramm, L., Stasiuk, E., Marangoni, D. 2 Surfactants and their applications. Ann. Rep. Sect. C Phys. Chem. 2003, 99, 3–48; https://doi.org/10.1039/B208499F.Search in Google Scholar
7. Klosowska-Chomiczewska, I., Medrzycka, K., Karpenko, E. Biosurfactants–biodegradability, toxicity, efficiency in comparison with synthetic surfactants. Adv. Chem. Mech. Eng 2011, 2, 1–9.Search in Google Scholar
8. Ambaye, T., Vaccari, M., Prasad, S., Rtimi, S. Preparation, characterization and application of biosurfactant in various industries: a critical review on progress, challenges and perspectives. Environ. Technol. Innov. 2021, 24, 102090; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.102090.Search in Google Scholar
9. Dhanarajan, G., Sen, R. Cost analysis of biosurfactant production from a scientist’s perspective. Biosurfactants 2014, 159, 153.Search in Google Scholar
10. Mousavi, S., Khodadoost, F. Effects of detergents on natural ecosystems and wastewater treatment processes: a review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2019, 26, 26439–26448; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05802-x.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
11. Yangxin, Y., Jin, Z., Bayly, A. Development of surfactants and builders in detergent formulations. Chin. J. Chem. Eng. 2008, 16, 517–527; https://doi.org/10.1016/S1004-9541(08)60115-9.Search in Google Scholar
12. Abdel-Rahem, R. Physiochemical Studies on Selected Technical Surfactant Systems in Aqueous Media. Master Thesis, Jordan University of Science and Technology, 2000.Search in Google Scholar
13. Inès, M., Mouna, B., MarwaDhouha, G. Biosurfactants as emerging substitutes of their synthetic counterpart in detergent formula: efficiency and environmental friendly. J. Polym. Environ. 2023, 31, 2779–2791; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-023-02778-1.Search in Google Scholar
14. Gayathiri, E., Prakash, P., Karmegam, N., Varjani, S., Awasthi, M. K., Ravindran, B. Biosurfactants: potential and eco-friendly material for sustainable agriculture and environmental safety – a review. Agronomy 2022, 12, 662; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030662.Search in Google Scholar
15. Cheng, K., Khoo, Z., Lo, N., Tan, W., Chemmangattuvalappil, N. Design and performance optimisation of detergent product containing binary mixture of anionic-nonionic surfactants. Heliyon 2020, 6, 1–13; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03861.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
16. Abdel-Rahem, R. A. Dilute hydrochloric acid induced switching from antagonism to synergism in the binary mixed systems of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). Tenside Surfactants Deterg. 2023, 60, 223–230; https://doi.org/10.1515/tsd-2022-2500.Search in Google Scholar
17. Abdel-Rahem, R. Synergism in mixed anionic–amphoteric surfactant solutions: influence of anionic surfactant chain length. Tenside Surfactants Deterg. 2009, 46, 298–305; https://doi.org/10.3139/113.110035.Search in Google Scholar
18. Abdel-Rahem, R., Al-Odail, F. The influence of surfactants synergism on the adsorption behavior at air/water and solid/water interfaces. J. Dispersion Sci. Technol. 2014, 35, 71009–71017; https://doi.org/10.1080/01932691.2013.826135.Search in Google Scholar
19. Abdel-Rahem, R., Niaz, S., Altwaiq, A., Esaifan, M., Al Shamaileh, E., Al Bawab, A. Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and N,N-dimethyldodecan-1-amine oxide (DDAO) in single and mixed systems as corrosion inhibitors of zinc in hydrochloric acid. Tenside Surfactants Deterg. 2022, 59, 240–253; https://doi.org/10.1515/tsd-2021-2417.Search in Google Scholar
20. Kashif, A., Rehman, R., Fuwad, A., Shahid, M. K., Dayarathne, H. N. P., Jamal, A., Aftab, M. N., Mainali, B., Choi, Y. Current advances in the classification, production, properties and applications of microbial biosurfactants – a critical review. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 2022, 306, 102718; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2022.102718.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
21. Mnif, I., Ghribi, D. Microbial derived surface active compounds: properties and screening concept. World J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2015, 31, 1001–1020; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-015-1866-6.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
22. Rebello, S., Asok, A., Mundayoor, S., Jisha, M. Surfactants: toxicity, remediation and green surfactants. Environ. Chem. Lett. 2014, 12, 275–287; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-014-0466-2.Search in Google Scholar
23. Bagheri, H., Mohebbi, A., Amani, F., Naderi, M. Application of low molecular weight and high molecular weight biosurfactant in medicine/biomedical/pharmaceutical industries. In Green Sustainable Process for Chemical and Environmental Engineering and Science, Biomedical Application of Biosurfactant in Medical Sector; Inamuddin, Adetunji, C. O., Ahamed, M. I., Eds. Elsevier: Amsterdam, 2022; pp. 1–60.10.1016/B978-0-323-85146-6.00027-9Search in Google Scholar
24. Abdel-Rahem, R. Phase Behavior and Structural Transitions in the Mixtures of Cationic Surfactants and Hydrophobic Counterions. Ph.D. Thesis, Bayreuth University, 2003.Search in Google Scholar
25. Kundu, S., Coumar, M., Rajendiran, S., Rao, A. Phosphates from detergents and eutrophication of surface water ecosystem in India. Curr. Sci. 2015, 108, 1320–1325.Search in Google Scholar
26. Abdel-Rahem, R. The influence of hydrophobic counterions on the phase behaviour of ionic surfactants. Tenside Surfactants Deterg. 2005, 42, 95–101; https://doi.org/10.3139/113.100241.Search in Google Scholar
27. Abdel Rahem, R. Formation of multilamellar vesicles in the systems of decyltrimethylammonium hydroxides/2-hydroxy 1-carboxynaphthoate and octyltrimethylammonium hydroxides/2-hydroxy 1 carboxynaphthoate. Tenside Surfactants Deterg. 2007, 3, 168–175; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2008.02.00210.3139/113.100337.Search in Google Scholar
28. Abdel-Rahem, R., Hoffmann, H. Novel viscoelastic systems from a cationic surfactant and a hydrophobic counterion: influence of surfactant chain length. J. Colloid Interfacial Sci. 2007, 312, 146–155; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2006.09.023.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
29. Abdel-Rahem, R. The influence of hydrophobic counterions on micellar growth of ionic surfactants. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 2008, 141, 24–36; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2008.02.002.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
30. Abdel-Rahem, R., Ayesh, A. Surface activity of newly nonionic surfactants at air/water interface and their interaction with clay and teflon. Tenside Surfactants Deterg. 2008, 3, 137–143; https://doi.org/10.3139/113.100371.Search in Google Scholar
31. Abdel-Rahem, R., Ayesh, A. Physiochemical properties of hydroxy mixed ether HMEn surfactants and their interaction with sodium dodecyl sulfate SDS. Tenside Surfactants Deterg. 2009, 2, 105–111; https://doi.org/10.3139/113.110013.Search in Google Scholar
32. Abdel-Rahem, R. The adsorption of hydroxyl mixed ether nonionic polymeric surfactants at air/water and solid/water interfaces: influence of surfactant molecular structure. J. Surfact. Deterg. 2013, 16, 123–130; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11743-012-1361-0.Search in Google Scholar
33. Purwasena, I., Astuti, D., Syukron, M., Amaniyah, M., Sugai, Y. Stability test of biosurfactant produced by Bacillus licheniformis DS1 using experimental design and its application for MEOR. J. Petrol Sci. Eng. 2019, 183, 106383; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.106383.Search in Google Scholar
34. Ahmad, A., Yeong, S., Ismail, R., Ooi, T., Ahmad, S. Synergistic effect between sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium lauryl ether sulphate with alkyl polyglycoside. J. Oil Palm Res. 2007, 19, 332–337.Search in Google Scholar
35. Cooper, D., Paddock, D. Production of a biosurfactant from torulopsis bombicola. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1984, 47, 173–176; https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.47.1.173-176.1984.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
36. Costa, S. G., Nitschke, M., Lépine, F., Déziel, E., Contiero, J. Structure, properties and applications of rhamnolipids produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa L2-1 from cassava wastewater. Process Biochem. 2010, 45, 1511–1516; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2010.05.033.Search in Google Scholar
37. Ishigami, Y., Osman, M., Nakahara, H., Sano, Y., Ishiguro, R., Matsumoto, M. Significance of β-sheet formation for micellization and surface adsorption of surfactin. Colloids Surf. B Biointerfaces 1995, 4, 341–348; https://doi.org/10.1016/0927-7765(94)01183-6.Search in Google Scholar
38. del Mar Graciani, M., Rodríguez, A., Muñoz, M., Moyá, M. Micellar solutions of sulfobetaine surfactants in Water−ethylene glycol mixtures: surface tension, fluorescence, spectroscopic, conductometric, and kinetic studies. Langmuir 2005, 21, 7161–7169; https://doi.org/10.1021/la050862j.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
39. Wang, H., Xiu, J., Huang, L., Yu, L., Wu, B. Study on the application potential of lipopeptide fermentation broth in oil recovery. Energy Sci. Eng. 2022, 10, 2065–2075; https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.1116.Search in Google Scholar
40. Rincón-Romero, J., Ríos, F., Reyes-Requena, A., Luzón-González, G., García-López, A. Surface and thermodynamics properties of commercial fatty-alcohol ethoxylate surfactants. J. Mol. Liq. 2023, 376, 121396; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2023.121396.Search in Google Scholar
41. Makkar, R., Rockne, K. Comparison of synthetic surfactants and biosurfactants in enhancing biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. Int. J. 2003, 22, 2280–2292; https://doi.org/10.1897/02-472.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
42. Poremba, K., Gunkel, W., Lang, S., Wagner, F. Marine biosurfactants, III. Toxicity testing with marine microorganisms and comparison with synthetic surfactants. Z. Naturforsch. C 1991, 46, 210–216; https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-1991-3-409.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
43. Mnif, I., Grau-Campistany, A., Coronel-León, J., Hammami, I., Triki, M., Manresa, A., Ghribi, D. Purification and identification of Bacillus subtilis SPB1 lipopeptide biosurfactant exhibiting antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia bataticola and Rhizoctonia solani. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2016, 23, 6690–6699; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5826-3.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
44. Pasternak, G., Askitosari, T., Rosenbaum, M. Biosurfactants and synthetic surfactants in bioelectrochemical systems: a mini-review. Front. Microbiol. 2020, 11, 358; https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00358.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
45. Yao, L., Selmi, A., Esmaeili, H. A review study on new aspects of biodemulsifiers: production, features and their application in wastewater treatment. Chemosphere 2021, 284, 131364; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131364.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
46. Ruckenstein, E. Microemulsions, macroemulsions, and the Bancroft rule. Langmuir 1996, 12, 6351–6353; https://doi.org/10.1021/la960849m.Search in Google Scholar
47. Fenibo, E., Douglas, S., Stanley, H. A review on microbial surfactants: production, classifications, properties and characterization. J. Adv. Microbiol. 2019, 18, 1–22; https://doi.org/10.9734/jamb/2019/v18i330170.Search in Google Scholar
48. Abdel-Mawgoud, A., Stephanopoulos, G. Simple glycolipids of microbes: chemistry, biological activity and metabolic engineering. Synth. Syst. Biotechnol. 2018, 3, 3–19; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synbio.2017.12.001.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
49. Edwards, K. R., Lepo, J. E., Lewis, M. A. Toxicity comparison of biosurfactants and synthetic surfactants used in oil spill remediation to two estuarine species. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 2003, 46, 1309–1316; https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(03)00238-8.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
50. Hall, W. S., Patoczka, J. B., Mirenda, R. J., Porter, B. A., Miller, E. Acute toxicity of industrial surfactants to Mysidopsis bahia. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 1989, 18, 765–772; https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01225014.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
51. Siam, E. Toxicity of biosurfactants and synthetic surfactants on marine organisms. Egypt. J. Hosp. Med. 2002, 7, 53–57; https://doi.org/10.21608/ejhm.2002.18821.Search in Google Scholar
52. Bouassida, M., Fourati, N., Ghazala, I., Ellouze-Chaabouni, S., Ghribi, D. Potential application of Bacillus subtilis SPB1 biosurfactants in laundry detergent formulations: compatibility study with detergent ingredients and washing performance. Eng. Life Sci. 2018, 18, 70–77; https://doi.org/10.1002/elsc.201700152.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
53. Turbekar, R., Malik, N., Dey, D., Thakare, D. Development of rhamnolipid based white board cleaner. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. 2014, 2, 570–573; https://doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i4.11589.Search in Google Scholar
54. Rufino, R., de Luna, J., de Campos Takaki, G., Sarubbo, L. Characterization and properties of the biosurfactant produced by Candida lipolytica UCP 0988. Electron. J. Biotechnol. 2014, 17, 34–38; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2013.12.006.Search in Google Scholar
55. Poremba, K., Gunkel, W., Lang, S., Wagner, F. Microbiotests with marine organisms for studying the toxic potential of biosurfactants and synthetic surfactants. Kiel. Meeresforsch. Sonderh. 1991, 8, 327–330.Search in Google Scholar
56. Sotirova, A. V., Spasova, D. I., Galabova, D. N., Karpenko, E., Shulga, A. Rhamnolipid-biosurfactant permeabilizing effects on gram-positive and gramnegative bacterial strains. Curr. Microbiol. 2008, 56, 639–644; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9139-3.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
57. Heitkamp, M., Cerniglia, C. The effects of chemical structure and exposure on the microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fresh water and estuarine ecosystems. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 1987, 6, 535–546; https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620060706.Search in Google Scholar
58. Piechowiak, K., Olszanowski, A. Influence of biosurfactants and synthetic surfactants on bacteria migration and contamination biodegradation in soil under the influence of weak electric field. Arch. Environ. Prot. 2003, 29, 51–59.Search in Google Scholar
59. Jain, R., Mody, K., Mishra, A., Jha, B. Physicochemical characterization of biosurfactant and its potential to remove oil from soil and cotton cloth. Carbohydr. Polym. 2012, 89, 1110–1116; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.03.077.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
60. Andrade, R., Silva, T., Ribeaux, D., Rodriguez, D., Souza, A., Lima, M., Lima, R., Alves da Silva, C., Campos-Takaki, G. Promising biosurfactant produced by Cunninghamella echinulata UCP 1299 using renewable resources and its application in cotton fabric cleaning process. Adv. Mater Sci. Eng. 2018, 2018, 1–12; https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1624573.Search in Google Scholar
61. Moldes, A., Rodríguez-López, L., Rincón-Fontán, M., López-Prieto, A., Vecino, X., Cruz, J. Synthetic and bio-derived surfactants versus microbial biosurfactants in the cosmetic industry: an overview. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 2371; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22052371.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
