MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF BIOPROCESS VARIABLES FOR IMPROVED PRODUCTION OF RHAMNOLIPID FROM Pesudomonas aeruginosa STRAIN JQ

Recent developments and experimental methodologies have sparked an interest in exploring multifaceted nature of surfactants of biological origin. Rapidly accumulating scientific data is emphasizing on the extensive nature of the biosurfactants produced by various microbial strains having a wider spectrum of biological activities. Confluence of information also provided evidence about the role of rhamnolipid in the development of sustainable agriculture and soil remediation. In present research an environmental isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa JQ was evaluated for rhamnolipid production under the effect of some nutritional parameters. Four nutritional factors were investigated viz NaNO3, KH2PO4, MgSO4 and FeSO4 by the application of response surface methodology. On the basis of regression analysis, 3.92 g/L NaNO3, 2.38 g/L KH2PO4, 0.26 g/L MgSO4 and 0.0028 g/L of FeSO4 were found to be optimum nutritional conditions where 5.67 g/L of the rhamnolipid was produced. In conclusion, P. aeruginosa JQ showed excellent metabolic potential to produce biosurfactants that could be effectively used in agriculture, environmental and medical applications.