Potential of <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718 Biosurfactant for Application in Removal of Motor Oil Adsorbed on Soils

Soil contamination by petroleum derivatives is a growing environmental issue that affects ecosystems and human health, since the hydrocarbons present in them are persistent and toxic, compromising soil quality and biodiversity. This study investigated the potential of a biosurfactant from <i>C...

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Main Authors: Pollyana P. Nascimento, Hugo M. Meira, Elias J. Silva, Attilio Converti, Raquel D. Rufino, Leonie A. Sarubbo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Surfaces
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9637/8/1/14
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author Pollyana P. Nascimento
Hugo M. Meira
Elias J. Silva
Attilio Converti
Raquel D. Rufino
Leonie A. Sarubbo
author_facet Pollyana P. Nascimento
Hugo M. Meira
Elias J. Silva
Attilio Converti
Raquel D. Rufino
Leonie A. Sarubbo
author_sort Pollyana P. Nascimento
collection DOAJ
description Soil contamination by petroleum derivatives is a growing environmental issue that affects ecosystems and human health, since the hydrocarbons present in them are persistent and toxic, compromising soil quality and biodiversity. This study investigated the potential of a biosurfactant from <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718, to be applied to remove oils from contaminated soils. After isolation, its main surface-active characteristics were evaluated. The biomolecule was then characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopy analyses, and its ability to remove motor oil adsorbed on soils with different particle sizes and its genotoxicity profile were determined. Tests to determine surfactant activities revealed a reduction in water surface tension to 30 mN/m with a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.03 g/L. The surfactant was shown to have a glycolipid nature. The removal of burned engine oil sorbed on various kinds of soil was investigated in both static and kinetic assays using the biosurfactant at different concentrations, namely, ½ CMC (0.015 g/L), CMC (0.03 g/L), and 2 × CMC (0.06 g/L). In the static tests, the maximum removal percentage was 65.32% for burned engine oil adsorbed on sandy soil, 59.04% on silty soil, and 57.42% on clayey soil, while in the kinetic tests, this parameter reached 98.60%, 93.22%, and 92.55% for sandy, silty, and clayey soils, respectively. The genotoxicity profile evaluated in <i>Allium cepa</i> roots did not reveal necrosis or the occurrence of micronuclei in the plant root cap cells, demonstrating that the biomolecule thus produced is not toxic. Such findings, when taken together, indicate that the <i>C. bombicola</i> URM 3718 biosurfactant was effective in removing oils and could, therefore, be used as an alternative agent for remediating hydrocarbon-polluted soil.
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spelling doaj-art-34340b6855d243ef86c5543fa1ca90c42025-08-20T03:43:57ZengMDPI AGSurfaces2571-96372025-02-01811410.3390/surfaces8010014Potential of <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718 Biosurfactant for Application in Removal of Motor Oil Adsorbed on SoilsPollyana P. Nascimento0Hugo M. Meira1Elias J. Silva2Attilio Converti3Raquel D. Rufino4Leonie A. Sarubbo5Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois irmãos, Recife 52171-900, PE, BrazilInstituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, 31, Prado, Recife 50070-280, PE, BrazilDepartamento de Química Fundamental-DQF, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Av. Jornalistas, Aníbal Fernandes, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50670-901, PE, BrazilDepartment of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Pole of Chemical Engineering, University of Genoa (UNIGE), Via Opera Pia, 15, 16145 Genoa, ItalyUniversidade Católica de Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, PE, BrazilInstituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, 31, Prado, Recife 50070-280, PE, BrazilSoil contamination by petroleum derivatives is a growing environmental issue that affects ecosystems and human health, since the hydrocarbons present in them are persistent and toxic, compromising soil quality and biodiversity. This study investigated the potential of a biosurfactant from <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718, to be applied to remove oils from contaminated soils. After isolation, its main surface-active characteristics were evaluated. The biomolecule was then characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopy analyses, and its ability to remove motor oil adsorbed on soils with different particle sizes and its genotoxicity profile were determined. Tests to determine surfactant activities revealed a reduction in water surface tension to 30 mN/m with a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.03 g/L. The surfactant was shown to have a glycolipid nature. The removal of burned engine oil sorbed on various kinds of soil was investigated in both static and kinetic assays using the biosurfactant at different concentrations, namely, ½ CMC (0.015 g/L), CMC (0.03 g/L), and 2 × CMC (0.06 g/L). In the static tests, the maximum removal percentage was 65.32% for burned engine oil adsorbed on sandy soil, 59.04% on silty soil, and 57.42% on clayey soil, while in the kinetic tests, this parameter reached 98.60%, 93.22%, and 92.55% for sandy, silty, and clayey soils, respectively. The genotoxicity profile evaluated in <i>Allium cepa</i> roots did not reveal necrosis or the occurrence of micronuclei in the plant root cap cells, demonstrating that the biomolecule thus produced is not toxic. Such findings, when taken together, indicate that the <i>C. bombicola</i> URM 3718 biosurfactant was effective in removing oils and could, therefore, be used as an alternative agent for remediating hydrocarbon-polluted soil.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9637/8/1/14<i>Candida bombicola</i>petroleumgenotoxicityenvironmental contamination
spellingShingle Pollyana P. Nascimento
Hugo M. Meira
Elias J. Silva
Attilio Converti
Raquel D. Rufino
Leonie A. Sarubbo
Potential of <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718 Biosurfactant for Application in Removal of Motor Oil Adsorbed on Soils
Surfaces
<i>Candida bombicola</i>
petroleum
genotoxicity
environmental contamination
title Potential of <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718 Biosurfactant for Application in Removal of Motor Oil Adsorbed on Soils
title_full Potential of <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718 Biosurfactant for Application in Removal of Motor Oil Adsorbed on Soils
title_fullStr Potential of <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718 Biosurfactant for Application in Removal of Motor Oil Adsorbed on Soils
title_full_unstemmed Potential of <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718 Biosurfactant for Application in Removal of Motor Oil Adsorbed on Soils
title_short Potential of <i>Candida bombicola</i> URM 3718 Biosurfactant for Application in Removal of Motor Oil Adsorbed on Soils
title_sort potential of i candida bombicola i urm 3718 biosurfactant for application in removal of motor oil adsorbed on soils
topic <i>Candida bombicola</i>
petroleum
genotoxicity
environmental contamination
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9637/8/1/14
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