The aim of the present study was to produce a microbial biosurfactant for use in the bioremediation of environments contaminated with petroleum products. Bacillus methylotrophicus was isolated from seawater taken from a port area and cultivated using industrial waste as substrate (corn steep liquor and sugarcane molasses [both at 3%]). Surface tension measurements and motor oil emulsification capacity were used for the evaluation of the production of the biosurfactant, which demonstrated stability in a broad range of pH and temperature as well as a high concentration of saline, with the reduction of the surface tension of water to 29 mN/m. The maximum concentration of biosurfactant (10.0 g/l) was reached after 144 h of cultivation. The biosurfactant was considered to be a lipopeptide based on the results of proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. The tests demonstrated that the biosurfactant is innocuous and has potential for the bioremediation of soil and water contaminated by petroleum products. Thus, the biosurfactant described herein has a low production cost and can be used in environmental processes.
Keywords: Bacillus; Bioavailability; Bioremediation; Industrial waste; Surfactant.