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Improved detection of rhamnolipid production using agar plates containing methylene blue and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide

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Abstract

Rhamnolipids, produced predominantly by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are biosurfactants with important applications. For efficient culture screening according to rhamnolipid productivity, the method using agar plates containing methylene blue (MB) and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was re-examined. An alternative set-up using a fixed underneath light source and image analysis software improved the detection of the circles formed due to complexation between anionic rhamnolipids and cationic MB/CTAB. The roles and effects of MB and CTAB concentrations and pH on the complexation phenomena are reported.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the US Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, Grant No. DTOS59-07-G-00050. The authors thank Dr. Tsung Min Kuo (USDA-ARS-NCAUR, Peoria, IL) for providing the strains isolated from the biodiesel plant soil samples, Dr. Yang Yun (Biomedical Engineering) for the use of UV transilluminator, and Ms. Jennifer Lilly and Mr. Aaron Cook for their assistance in carrying out experimental procedures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325-3906, USA

    Neissa M. Pinzon & Lu-Kwang Ju

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  1. Neissa M. Pinzon
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  2. Lu-Kwang Ju
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Correspondence to Lu-Kwang Ju.

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Pinzon, N.M., Ju, LK. Improved detection of rhamnolipid production using agar plates containing methylene blue and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide. Biotechnol Lett 31, 1583–1588 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-009-0049-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-009-0049-7

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