Sustainable biosurfactant production from agro-industry waste and by-products

Abstract

The growing concern over environmental issues linked to the improper disposal of agro-industrial residues and by-products has heightened the focus on their efficient use and valorisation. A sustainable way to use these residues and by-products as substrates can be done by biotechnological processes like microbial biosurfactant synthesis. Biosurfactants, made from renewable resources by microorganisms, are a good substitute for traditional petrochemical surfactants. They have benefits including mild production conditions, low ecotoxicity, and biodegradability. In addition to their applications as food additives and preservatives, these biosurfactants have several uses in other industries, such as wastewater treatment, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, cosmetics, and the petroleum sector. With an emphasis on the significance and status of sustainable production, this study attempts to offer an extensive overview of scientific research on the application of agro-industrial residues and by-products in microbial biosurfactant production. Furthermore, the paper addresses the present state and potential future directions of microbial biosurfactant production based on market analysis and research investigations.