Biosynthesis and Interfacial Properties of Sophorolipids As a Biosurfactant

생체계면활성제 소포로리피드의 생합성과 계면 특성

Sophorolipids were biosynthesized using a strain of yeast, Torulopsis bombicola ATCC22214. It has been reported that this yeast gives the highest yields for the production of biosurfactant sophorolipids. Hence, this yeast was used in this study. One of the objectives of this study is to increase the yield of the sophorolipid synthesis. To meet this end, basic culture medium was formulated on the basis of literature research to-date. When this medium was used, the increase in yield from 15% to 150% was observed compared to using the media in the literature. To examine how the interfacial characteristics of sophorolipids change with substrate, glucose (the first carbon source) was maintained in the media and after being cultured for three days, the second carbon sources such as alkanes, vegetable oils, alcohols or organic acids were added. The whole broth was extracted twice with ethyl acetate and the extract was analyzed by thin layer chromatograhy(TLC). After qualitative analyses by TLC, surface tensions of sophorolipids were measured by the Wilhelmy plate method and critical micelle concentration(CMC) was determined using these surface tension data. Also, interfacial tensions were measured by the spinning drop method and emulsions of the three-component water/decane/sophorolipid system were tested. Sophorolipids were effective and efficient in terms of surface tension reduction and CMC, but they were ineffective as emulsifiers because emulsions were separated within 30 minutes.