Advances on research in the use of agro-industrial waste in biosurfactant production.

Biosurfactants are amphiphilic molecules produced by a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi. Unlike chemically synthesized surfactants, biosurfactants present advantages, such as biodegradability, low toxicity, high selectivity and activity under extreme temperature, pH and salinity conditions, as well as a low critical micelle concentration. Moreover, they can be produced from agro-industrial waste and renewable sources.