Biosurfactants produced by yeasts: fermentation, screening, recovery, purification, characterization, and applications

The demand for biosurfactants (BS) produced by yeast for use in industrial processes and products is increasing. Therefore, there has been an increase in the number of publications related to characterization of surfactant compounds produced by yeasts generally recognized as safe (GRAS), which has enabled their application in several industries, including the pharmaceutical and food industries. However, some of these studies use techniques that are not accurate or are no longer essential because of advancements in new technologies. Given the industrial importance of yeasts and their potential to produce BS, this study reviews the production of BS by this microorganism and the most recent industrial applications of BS. It also critically reviews a wide range of techniques used in screening of BS-producing strains, as well as those used in recovery, purification, and characterization of these surfactant compounds produced by yeasts. This review introduces diverse methodologies that are indispensable for the study of BS produced by yeast in an effort to advance BS design, synthesis, and application and introduces new perspectives in the research of these compounds to overcome the obstacles present in this field.