Effects of Carbon and Nitrogen Sources on Biosurfactant Production by Bacteria
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Abstract
Biosurfactants are organic, surface-active compounds that contain hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties produced by microorganisms. Their production depends on the type of nutrients, microorganisms and culture conditions. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of carbon and nitrogen sources on biosurfactant production by bacteria. Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 15987, Streptomyces carpaticus N29, Alcaligenes faecalis IISR-EPN BC 08 and Alcaligenes faecalis BPS II were isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soil and screened for biosurfactant production on Kim’s medium. The effects of 3% carbon source and 0.1% nitrogen source on biosurfactant production by the isolates were investigated using one variable at a time method. The activity of the biosurfactants were determined by emulsification index measurement on hydrophobic substrates. The carbon and nitrogen sources of choice for biosurfactant production by the investigated bacteria were: starch/sucrose (emulsification index (E24) range = 51.61% to 69.69%) and ammonium sulphate (E24 range = 43.75% to 62.85%) respectively. Very high emulsification index was observed for Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 15987 (65.71%), Streptomyces carpaticus N29 (77.50%) and Alcaligenes faecalis BPS II (63.16%), using starch and (NH4)2SO4) as carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. Alcaligenes faecalis IISR-EPN BC 08 utilized sucrose and ammonium sulphate as carbon and nitrogen of choice respectively to produce biosurfactant with emulsification index of 70.00%. Palm oil was highly emulsified by Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 15987 (81.25%), Streptomyces carpaticus N29 (82.00%), Alcaligenes faecalis IISR-EPN BC 08 (79.17%), and Alcaligenes faecalis BPS II (80.00%), while Streptomyces carpaticus N29 achieved the highest activity (90.48%) with engine oil. This study shows that starch/sucrose and ammonium sulphate improved biosurfactant production by the bacteria. The emulsification of the hydrophobic substrates suggests their use in hydrocarbon bioremediation and as emulsifiers in food industries.
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Nnabugwu, S. C., Ajogwu, T. M. C., Ohuche, J. C., Osilo, C., Ekwealor, C. C., & Ekwealor, I. A. (2026). Effects of Carbon and Nitrogen Sources on Biosurfactant Production by Bacteria. The Bioscientist Journal, 14(2), 289-310. https://doi.org/10.54117/the_bioscientist.v14i2.233
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