Production and characterization of biosurfactant from Bacillus subtilis CCTCC AB93108

The production and properties of the biosurfactant synthesized by Bacillus subtilis CCTCC AB93108 were studied. The maximum concentration of the surfactant is 1.64 g/L when the bacteria grow in a medium supplemented with glucose as carbon sources. The isolated biosurfactant is a complex of protein and polysaccharide without lipids. It reduces the surface tension of distilled water to 45.9 mN/m, and its critical micelle concentration (CMC) is 2.96 g/L. It can stabilize emulsions of several aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, xylene, n-pentane, n-nonane, gasoline and diesel oil. It presents high emulsification activity and stability in a wide range of temperature (4-100 ℃) and a long period of duration.