New Frontiers Regarding Surfactants and Biosurfactants: Production, Characterization and Application

Dear Colleagues,

Surfactants are among the most commonly used groups of chemicals. Their applications range elements used in everyday life to specific applications in various industrial sectors. Since numerous representatives of surfactants exhibit potent biological activity, their presence in the environment is associated with notable hazards. As a result, an increasing interest in surface active compounds of biological origin has been observed over the last three decades. Biosurfactants have gained significant popularity as an environmentally friendly alternative to their synthetic counterparts in fields such as medicine, pharmaceutical production, oil recovery enhancement, and bioremediation. Consequently, the number of reports dedicated to the identification of biosurfactants originating from plants and microorganisms is steadily increasing. However, despite much promise, this approach has numerous limitations, most notably in terms of efficient production and purification. Considering the potential “pros” and “cons” of recent advances in the field of surface active compounds, the discussion regarding the displacement of synthetic surfactants with biosurfactants remains open.

This Special Issue of Molecules will focus on novel trends associated with the production, characterization, and application of synthetic and biological surfactants. We aim to provide a solid foundation for evaluating the feasibility of replacing conventional surfactants with biosurfactants.

Dr. Łukasz Chrzanowski
Dr. Łukasz Ławniczak
Dr. András Táncsics
Guest Editors

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