Isolation of Biosurfactant Producer from Soil

Biosurfactants are amphiphilic compounds produced on living surfaces, mostly microbial cell surfaces or excreted extracellularly and contain hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties which reduce surface tension and interfacial tensions between individual molcules at the surface and interface respectively. The oil spills on ocean and soil contaminated by oils is one of the major pollution for environment. To overcome this problem, synthetic surfactant is use. However, the usage of sythetic or chemical surfactant is not efficient as it toxic and non degradeable. Thus, biosurfactant is the alternative for bioremediation solution for oil pollution as it non-toxicity, easy to degrade, cheap, better environmental compatibility and higher substrate selectivity. The aim of this study is to isolate the biosurfactant producer from soil. By conducting this study, we should be able to determine and evaluate the potential to isolate the biosurfactant producer from soil sample. The usage of surfactant is not limited only to bioremediation but also including the industrial such as food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical. Therefore, it significant to identify the potential biosurfactant producer and in same times increase the awareness and economical value of biosurfactant by promoting it potential and benefit. In this study, a total of eight isolated were obtained from soil sample taken from sampling area around Medan Selera, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus. All eight isolate then undergoes several test to identify and characterize any biosurfactant producer isolate from soil sample. From this eight isolates, four isolates showed distinct characteristic with yellow color colony compare to white color colony from others four isolates. All eight isolates were determined as Gram-negative microorganisms as Gram staining test showed all eight isolate appears to showed the pink counterstain. To identify any presence of biosurfactants, all eight isolates then undergoes three different test which were drop collapse test, blood agar hemolysis test and emulsification assay. All eight isolate showed positive result in drop collapse test and high index in emulsification activity whereas all eight isolates is y-hemolysis (gamma hemolysis) type as the isolates strain showed no clear zone on blood agar surface.