Rhamnolipids: an insight to the overall characteristics of these extraordinary biomolecules

ABSTRACT

Worldwide, rhamnolipids have become the ‘green, eco-friendly’ alternative to traditional chemical surfactants. Rhamnolipids are widely applicable in a variety of industries, such as bioremediation, food, petroleum, and agriculture. The most capable producer of rhamnolipids is still Pseudomonas aeruginosa; nevertheless, due to its pathogenicity, large-scale production and application may pose safety and health risks. The antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral characteristics of biosurfactants derived from bacteria make them particularly interesting for use in medicine and other biological settings. It is anticipated that the review will deepen our knowledge of rhamnolipid's effects on the environment and offer crucial insights to inform the expanding application of this intriguing chemical in remediation. One thing that appears to be neglected a lot is the biodegradation of rhamnolipids. Providing a thorough understanding of rhamnolipid biosynthesis and biodegradability is the aim of this review.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Biosurfactant
• rhamnolipid
• biodegradability
• biosynthesis
• microorganisms

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).