Isolation and Optimization of Biosurfactant Producing Pseudomonas spp. from Orange Peel Waste and Petroleum-Contaminated Soil with Antimicrobial Potential (Research Article)

Author(s): Jaspal Kaur Oberoi*, Nazia Tambat, Jayashree Acharya, Tressa Jovis, Shilpa P Tambe, Amrita Bhatia, Maryam Bagdadi, Muqadas Bakshi and Siraj Shaikh

Abstract: The demand for sustainable biomolecules has accelerated research on microbial biosurfactants, valued for their biodegradability, low toxicity, and structural diversity. These amphiphilic compounds find applications across pharmaceutical, agricultural, food, cosmetic, and environmental industries, owing to their antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. In this study, six bacterial isolates were recovered from orange peel waste and petroleum-contaminated soil in Pune. Primary screening for biosurfactant production was performed using Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) agar and the Bacterial Adhesion to Hydrocarbons (BATH) assay, followed by secondary confirmation through drop collapse, oil spreading, and emulsification index (E24) tests. Production parameters were optimized using a one-variable-at-a-time approach to assess the effects of carbon concentration, pH, temperature, and incubation period. The most promising isolate was identified as Pseudomonas spp. based on Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Thin Layer Chromatography and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed biosurfactant synthesis, with the compound exhibiting notable antimicrobial and antifungal activity. These findings highlight the biosurfactant’s potential for diverse biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.

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