Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Pharmacy - Department of Microbiology and Immunology

A total of nineteen bacterial isolates were screened for their biodegradation, metabolic versatility and biosurfactants production using various organic pollutants. The biosurfactants production ability was mainly assessed by spread test (OST) and/or emulsification assay (EA). Although initial biosurfactants screening was conducted using paraffin oil, the application of vegetable oils, particularly coconut oil, was always accompanied with the highest yield of biosurfactants production. Biochemical and molecular identification of the nineteen isolates revealed that they belong to four genera; Burkholderia (9 isolates), Klebsiella (6 isolates), Pseudomonas (3 isolates) and Citrobacter (1 isolate). Interestingly, six isolates (M2H2 1, M2H2 3, M2H2 7, M2H2 M2H2 14 and M2H2 15), showed the highest biosurfactants production and therefore were further assessed using mixed carbon source (coconut oil in combination with one organic pollutant (phenol or cyclohexanol)). The addition of the coconut oil was essential for increased production of biosurfactant, while the use of organic pollutant as a sole carbon source was always accompanied with lower productivity

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