Biotechnological Utilization of Agro-Industrial Residues and By-Products—Sustainable Production of Biosurfactants

Abstract

The importance and interest in the efficient use and valorization of agro-industrial residues and by-products have grown due to environmental problems associated with improper disposal. Biotechnological production processes, including microbial biosurfactant production, represent a sustainable way to utilize agro-industrial residues and by-products, which are applied as substrates in these processes. Biosurfactants produced by microorganisms using renewable resources are a viable alternative to traditional petrochemical surfactants and have several potential uses in a wide range of industrial sectors due to their minimal ecotoxicity, easy biodegradability, and moderate production conditions. The common applications of biosurfactants, besides in food industry as food additives and preservatives, are in agriculture, environmental protection, the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industry, wastewater treatment, the petroleum industry, etc. This review aims to summarize the comprehensive scientific research related to the use of various agro-industrial residues and by-products in the microbial production of biosurfactants, as well as to emphasize the present state and the importance of their sustainable production. Additionally, based on the available biosurfactant market analysis datasets and research studies, the current situation in science and industry and the future perspectives of microbial biosurfactant production have been discussed.

The Formulation of a Natural Detergent with a Biosurfactant Cultivated in a Low-Cost Medium for Use in Coastal Environmental Remediation

“…This is particularly evident in the food industry. In recent decades, industrial waste products have attracted the interest of researchers as low-cost substrates for the production of biosurfactants [9,10]. However, the waste must provide the nutrients required for microbial growth and subsequent biosurfactant production.…”

“…Industrial wastes with high carbohydrate or lipid contents are particularly suitable for use as substrates [9]. When performed on an industrial scale, the benefits of using by-products from the agri-food industry as raw materials include reducing production costs and generating less waste [10]. The use of agro-industrial waste and by-products as raw materials for producing higher-value products has created new industrial opportunities in addition to contributing to the preservation of the environment, making the process more ecological and aligned with the principle of a circular bioeconomy.…”