Simultaneous Production of Rhamnolipids and Glycolipopeptides by Burkholderia thailandensis E264 via Covalorization of Torrefied Wood Waste and Food Waste

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Continued research into structurally and functionally diverse biosurfactants is crucial to identify new biosurfactants that are cost-competitive and suitable for diverse industrial niches. Herein, we report the successful application of wood waste torrefied at 225 °C (T225) and food waste (FWS) as media components in three different formulations─T225, T225–FWS, and FWS─for the concomitant production of rhamnolipids and biopolymers by Burkholderia thailandensis E264. The rhamnolipids (carbon chain length C8–C16) exhibited media-dependent congener differences, and the biopolymers were identified to be glycolipopeptides with molecular weights of 4.4 × 10 5 –5.5 × 10 5 Da. T225–FWS exhibited the highest thermostability and retained ∼30% of its residual mass at 400 °C, suggesting potential high-temperature applications, including oil recovery and industrial cleaning. Rhamnose was the dominant sugar in T225 and T225–FWS glycolipopeptides, whereas in FWS, galactose was dominant. FAME analysis by GC–MS revealed lipid chains ranging from C12 to C18 in the biopolymers. All three biopolymers were anionic and possessed β-hemolytic, emulsification, and drop-collapse activities against crude oil and engine oil. Moreover, T225, T225–FWS, and FWS biopolymers could reduce the surface tension of water up to 36.8, 35.4, and 48.5 mN/m, respectively. This study could lead to resource-efficient synthesis of structurally and, hence, functionally tunable biosurfactants from low-cost, completely waste-derived media in biorefinery operations.