# Simultaneous Production of Rhamnolipids and Glycolipopeptides by Burkholderia thailandensis E264 via Covalorization of Torrefied Wood Waste and Food Waste

## TL;DR

Researchers used wood and food waste to produce biosurfactants with Burkholderia thailandensis E264, showing potential for industrial applications.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the first simultaneous production of rhamnolipids and glycolipopeptides from torrefied wood and food waste.

## Key findings

- T225–FWS media produced biosurfactants with the highest thermostability, retaining ∼30% mass at 400 °C.
- Glycolipopeptides from T225 and T225–FWS had rhamnose as the dominant sugar, while FWS had galactose.
- All three biopolymers reduced water surface tension significantly, with T225–FWS achieving the lowest at 35.4 mN/m.

## Abstract

Continued research into structurally and functionally
diverse biosurfactants
is crucial to identify new biosurfactants that are cost-competitive
and suitable for diverse industrial niches. Herein, we report the
successful application of wood waste torrefied at 225 °C (T225)
and food waste (FWS) as media components in three different formulationsT225,
T225–FWS, and FWSfor the concomitant production of
rhamnolipids and biopolymers by Burkholderia thailandensis E264. The rhamnolipids (carbon chain length C8–C16) exhibited
media-dependent congener differences, and the biopolymers were identified
to be glycolipopeptides with molecular weights of 4.4 × 105–5.5 × 105 Da. T225–FWS exhibited
the highest thermostability and retained ∼30% of its residual
mass at 400 °C, suggesting potential high-temperature applications,
including oil recovery and industrial cleaning. Rhamnose was the dominant
sugar in T225 and T225–FWS glycolipopeptides, whereas in FWS,
galactose was dominant. FAME analysis by GC–MS revealed lipid
chains ranging from C12 to C18 in the biopolymers. All three biopolymers
were anionic and possessed β-hemolytic, emulsification, and
drop-collapse activities against crude oil and engine oil. Moreover,
T225, T225–FWS, and FWS biopolymers could reduce the surface
tension of water up to 36.8, 35.4, and 48.5 mN/m, respectively. This
study could lead to resource-efficient synthesis of structurally and,
hence, functionally tunable biosurfactants from low-cost, completely
waste-derived media in biorefinery operations.