Abstract
The nutritional requirements and growth characteristics of a biosurfactant-producingRhodococcus bacterium isolated from Kuwaiti soil were determined. Maximum cell yields (6.6 g/l) and biosurfactant production were achieved with a medium containing 2% (v/v)n-paraffin as a carbon and energy source, 0.2% lactose broth, optimal concentrations of nitrogen (nitrate), phosphorus, iron, magnesium and sodium sources, and minimal concentrations of potassium and trace element sources. The optimal pH was 6.8 for surfactant production and optimal temperature was 37°C. The biosurfactant produced after 16 to 33 h growth in a 7 I fermenter decreased both surface tension and interfacial tension of culture broth to below 27 and 1.8 mN/m, respectively, and was effective at critical micelle dilutions of 10−3. Data on biosurfactant biosynthesis suggest that the product is produced as a primary metabolite and, therefore, could be produced effectively under continuous fermentation conditions.
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Additional information
A.S. Abu-Ruwaida, S. Haditirto and A. Khamis are with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Biotechnology Department, P.O. Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait. I.M. Banat is now in Londonderry, Northern Ireland but was at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research at the time this paper was written. A.S. Abu-Ruwaida is the corresponding author.
In view of the annexation of Kuwait by Iraq in August 1990, this paper has been accepted without return to the author for attention to minor details. The Editor-in-Chief therefore assumes full responsibility for any errors or omissions.
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Abu-Ruwaida, A.S., Banat, I.M., Haditirto, S. et al. Nutritional requirements and growth characteristics of a biosurfactant-producingRhodococcus bacterium. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 7, 53–60 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310920
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310920