Mechanisms for rhamnolipids-mediated biodegradation of hydrophobic organic compounds

Zhuotong Zeng; Yang Liu; Hua Zhong; Rong Xiao; Guangming Zeng; Zhifeng Liu; Min Cheng; Cui Lai; Chen Zhang; Guansheng Liu; Lei Qin

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.349

Mechanisms for rhamnolipids-mediated biodegradation of hydrophobic organic compounds

Sci Total Environ. 2018 Sep 1:634:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.349. Epub 2018 Apr 3.

Authors

Zhuotong Zeng¹, Yang Liu², Hua Zhong³, Rong Xiao¹, Guangming Zeng⁴, Zhifeng Liu², Min Cheng², Cui Lai², Chen Zhang², Guansheng Liu², Lei Qin²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, PR China.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
³ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China. Electronic address: zgming@hnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 29625372
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.349

Abstract

The widespread existence of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in soil and water poses a potential health hazard to human, such as skin diseases, heart diseases, carcinogenesis, etc. Surfactant-enhanced bioremediation has been regarded as one of the most viable technologies to treat HOCs contaminated soil and groundwater. As a biosurfactant that has been intensively studied, rhamnolipids have shown to enhance biodegradation of HOCs in the environment, however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully disclosed. In this paper, properties and production of rhamnolipids are summarized. Then effects of rhamnolipids on the biodegradation of HOCs, including solubilization, altering cell affinity to HOCs, and facilitating microbial uptake are reviewed in detail. Special attention is paid to how rhamnolipids change the bioavailability of HOCs, which are crucial for understanding the mechanism of rhamnolipids-mediated biodegradation. The biodegradation and toxicity of rhamnolipids are also discussed. Finally, perspectives and future research directions are proposed. This review adds insight to rhamnolipids-enhanced biodegradation process, and helps in application of rhamnolipids in bioremediation.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Bioremediation; Hydrophobic organic compounds; Microorganism; Rhamnolipids.

Publication types

Review