Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

Microbial surfactants have now for long been recognized as a replacement for their chemically synthesized counterparts. It is well known that diverse groups of microbial surfactants have different natural roles which are specific to the physiology and ecology of the producing microorganisms. These roles confer them immense potential in various industrial sectors such as petroleum and petrochemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, mining and metallurgy, foods and beverages, agrochemicals, organic chemicals, and many others. They also have a potential candidature for use as antimicrobial agents, chemo-attractants, and stabilizing agents among others. They possess unique properties like biodegradability, low toxicity, biocompatibility and digestibility, and can be produced from renewable cheap raw materials. These characteristics render them suitable for bioremediation and human use rather than the synthetic ones.