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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Grant Burgess
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
The terms biosurfactant and bioemulsifier have often been used interchangeably to describe surface active biomolecules. However, it is important to note that there are marked differences between them especially based on their physico-chemical properties and physiological roles. Although bioemulsifiers and biosurfactants are both amphiphilic in nature and are produced by a wide range of microorganisms, each exhibit characteristic roles in nature. These microbial surfactants have recently received increased scientific attention due to their unique characteristics relative to chemically derived surfactants. Their unique features include; non-toxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, efficiency at low concentrations and their synthesis from natural substrates under mild environmental conditions.
Author(s): Uzoigwe C, Burgess JG, Ennis CJ, Rahman PKSM
Publication type: Editorial
Publication status: Published
Journal: Frontiers in Microbiology
Year: 2015
Volume: 6
Print publication date: 07/04/2015
Online publication date: 07/04/2015
Acceptance date: 13/03/2015
ISSN (electronic): 1664-302X
Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00245
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00245