Biosurfactants as useful tools in bioremediation of contaminated soil and aquatic areas

Biosurfactants are nonhomogenous substances produced by a wide range of microorganisms. Because of their less toxicity; high selectivity; good environmental compatibility; and high activity under extreme conditions such as salinity, temperature, pH, and salinity, they have more advantages than chemical surfactants. Human activities has led to discharge of various toxic substances into the environment. These pollutants can be harmful to human health as they pollute various natural sources, i.e., soil, water, etc. on which we are directly or indirectly dependent. The use of traditional methods has various problems related to the degradation, and various secondary toxic by-products are released into the ecosphere after treatment. The role of microorganisms for degradation and detoxification of contaminated soil and aquatic areas has gained more importance in recent years, and the process has been named bioreclamation. Diverse structural and superior physicochemical properties have led biosurfactants to be considered as a potential candidate for application in a wide range of industries such as cosmetics, food, agricultural, pharmaceutical, bioremediation, biodegradation, and environmental industries. However, much work related to biosurfactants is still needed to analyze their production, properties, structure, and behavior for its application in the process of remediation. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the salient features of biosurfactant in the field of remediation of various pollutants present in soil and aquatic areas mainly due to anthropogenic activities.