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Abstract

This study is focused on the production of biosurfactants from fermentation of agro-industrial wastes by Lactobacillus fermentum NBRC 15885 strains which were isolated from whey produced in a cattle region of Colombia (Bajo Cauca Antioqueño). Biosurfactant production was studied by means of a full factorial experimental design (3x2x4) with three replicates. Selected factors were microbial strain, agro-industrial waste used as a carbon source (whey or molasses) and culture broth. Surface tension of supernatant was selected as response variable of the experimental design. The lowest value of surface tension was obtained when molasses was used as the main source of carbon (34,3 mNm-1 on average). In this case, the biosurfactant concentration in the supernatant quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography was 890 mgL-1. Surface tension values below the positive control (40 mNm-1) were also obtained when whey was used in the process. The results obtained showed that cheese whey and molasses can be used as a relatively inexpensive renewable substrates to produce biosurfactants from Lactobacillus fermentum strains.