Non-traditional Oils as Newer Feedstock for Rhamnolipids Production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 10145)

Oils and fats serve as one of the most important renewable feedstocks for various chemicals such as lubricants, textiles auxiliaries, biodiesel and surfactants. The oils have also proved themselves to be better substrates than glucose for production of biosurfactants such as rhamnolipids. Cost is major hindrance in the commercialization of these biosurfactants and fresh refined oils cannot be used for rhamnolipid production. Non-traditional oils such as jatropha oil, karanja oil and neem oil can be used as newer feedstock for the synthesis of rhamnolipids. Jatropha oil gave the highest production of rhamnolipids, 4.55 g/L in non-traditional oils and the rhamnolipid concentration was comparable to that of most common oils, sunflower oil giving 5.08 g/L of rhamnolipids. The jatropha oil contained mainly linoleic acid that showed the highest consumption rate as compared to oleic and palmitic acid. Neem oil produced a lower concentration of rhamnolipids (2.63 g/L) than other oils. Both monorhamnolipids and dirhamnolipids were synthesized using these oils. The product obtained can find high value specialty applications such as biomedical drug delivery and cosmetics.