Structural Characterization and Stability of Biosurfactant Produced by Achromobacter sp. Isolated from Tannery Effluent

This study investigates the structural characteristics and stability of biosurfactants produced by Achromobacter specie. FT-IR spectra revealed key functional groups indicative of an amphiphilic biosurfactant, including hydroxyl groups (3279 cm⁻¹), aliphatic C-H stretches (2923 cm⁻¹), carbonyl groups (1640 cm⁻¹), and glycosidic linkages (1220-1019 cm⁻¹). These features suggest a lipopeptide molecular structure. GC-MS profiling further suggests the presence of fatty acid derivatives and high-molecular-mass fragments associated with lipopeptide biosurfactants, identifying compounds such as hydroxydecanoic acid, trans-2-dodecenoic acid, and 3-hydroxydecanoic acid. The chromatographic patterns corresponded with reference spectra of lipopeptide standards. Stability assessment showed that the biosurfactants maintained activity across varying temperatures, pH levels, and NaCl concentrations, demonstrating high thermal, pH, and salt tolerance. These findings highlight Achromobacter sp. as a promising producer of structurally diverse and highly stable biosurfactants suitable for industrial and environmental applications