Abstract
The demand for bio-surfactants is growing daily over synthetic surfactants
due to their less harmful effects on the environment, biodegradability, and nontoxic
effects on public health. Biosurfactants play a significant role in foam generation,
emulsification, oil dispersion, and detergency due to their amphipathic structure with
the hydrophilic and hydrophobic sites. In recent years, tremendous development in
research has resulted in different methods to produce several types of biosurfactants
from microorganisms. Several biosurfactants are grown commercially and applied in
the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors, food, petroleum, and agricultural sectors to
mitigate environmental contaminants. The current chapter discusses the potentiality of
biosurfactants to degrade environmental pollutants in various fields.
Keywords: Amphipathic, Biosurfactant, Emulsification, Environmental contaminants, Interfacial tension.