Abstract

APPLICATION OF SOPHOROLIPIDS SYNTHESIZED USING LAURYL ALCOHOL AS A GERMICIDE AND FRUIT-VEGETABLE WASH

Vrushali Dengle-Pulate, Jnanada Joshi , Sunil Bhagwat, Asmita Prabhune*

ABSTRACT

Sophorolipids are glycolipids that can be produced by bioconversion of native and renewable feed stocks. They have the combined advantage of green chemistry and a lower carbon footprint without the undesirable side products or environmental downsides associated with many market reference surfactants. Sophorolipids are reported to have a low acute toxicity and are fully biodegradable. Sophorolipid production was carried out using glucose as the hydrophilic source and lauryl alcohol C12–14, as the hydrophobic source using Candida bombicola ATCC 22214 (SLLA). A germicidal composition suitable for cleaning fruits and vegetables was formulated using SLLA. Various fruits and vegetables were sprayed with the formulation to check its effect on the shelf life of the sprayed vegetables. Log reduction assay was used to determine the effectiveness of the formulation at reducing microorganism population. Treatment with germicidal resulted in > 90 % reduction of cells i.e. 1 log reduction in Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 23564 and > 99 % reduction of cells i.e. 2 log reduction in Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 after 10 minutes. Erwinia chrysanthemi ATCC 11663 and Xanthomonas campestris ATCC 13951 resulted in 100% reduction of cells after 10 minutes. These results are remarkably encouraging compared to reported studies.

Keywords: Candida bombicola ATCC 22214, surfactants, sophorolipids, Lauryl alcohol, anti-microbial activity