Two methods were used to make crude preparations of surface-active compounds (SACs) produced by Gordonia amicalis grown on the medium containing 1% diesel oil. Using a 2:1 (v/v) solution of chloroform:methanol for extraction, Type I SACs were isolated and shown to produce oil in water (O/W) emulsions. Type II SACs were isolated by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and produced predominantly water in oil emulsions (W/O). The crude Type I and II preparations were able to produce a significant reduction in the surface tension of water; however, the crude Type II preparation had 10-25 fold higher emulsification activity than the Type I preparation. Both SAC preparations were analyzed by the TLC and each produced two distinct bands with Rf 0.44 and 0.62 and Rf 0.52 and 0.62, respectively. The partially purified SACs were characterized by the ESI(+)-MS, FT-IR and NMR. In each one of these fractions, a mixture of 10 oligomers was found consisting of a series of compounds, with masses from 502 to 899, differing in molecular mass by a repeating unit of 44 Daltons. The mass spectra of these compounds did not appear to match other known biosurfactants and could represent a novel class of these compounds.

Fungos isolados de solo foram avaliados quanto à habilidade em degradarem compostos derivados de lignina pela produção de enzimas ligninolíticas. Os ácidos lignosulfônicos e tânico foram usados separadamente como única fonte de carobono para cultivo dos fungos em 30 dias sob condições microaeróbias. Os fungos foram capazes de crescer e usar tais compostos como fonte de carbono e mostraram produção de lignina-peroxidase, manganês-peroxidase e lacase. Degradações expressivas dos ácidos lignosulfônico e tânico foram verificadas por Cromatografia Liquida de Alta Eficiência (CLAE), indicando grande potencial de uso em processos de biorremediação de macromoléculas aromáticas similares à lignina em ambientes naturais sob condições baixas de oxigenação.

Soil fungi were evaluated regarding their ability to degrade lignin-related compounds by producing the ligninolytic enzymes. Lignosulfonic and tannic acids were used as sole carbon sources during 30 days under microaerobic and very-low-oxygen conditions. The fungi produced lignin-peroxidase, manganese-peroxidase and laccase . Expressive degradations was observed by C18 reversed-phase HPLC, indicating the biodegradation potential of these fungi, showing more advantages than obligate anaerobes to decontaminate the environment when present naturally.

Duas bactérias isoladas de solo contaminado com derivados de petróleo, Pantoea agglomerans e Planococcus citreus, produzem biosurfactantes utilizando respectivamente 1.5% de querosene e óleo de oliva como únicas fontes de carbono. As bactérias e os biosurfactantes produzidos foram adicionados a um efluente oleoso obtido de uma indústria nacional de sabão e margarina. As atividades de emulsificação foram determinadas pelo aumento da absorbância das emulsões óleo em água a 610 nm, enquanto que as emulsões do tipo água em óleo foram expressas em centímetros, pela altura do halo de espumas formado. A redução da demanda química de oxigênio (COD) mostra que as linhagens e os biosurfactantes produzidos podem ser utilizados em processos de biorremediação.

Two bacteria isolated from crude oil contaminated soil, Pantoea agglomerans and Planococcus citreus, produced biosurfactants utilizing 1.5% of kerosene and olive oil as the sole carbon sources, respectively. The bacteria and the biosurfactants produced were introduced to oily effluent, arising from margarine and soap industry. Emulsification activities were determined by increases in the absorbance of the oil-in-water emulsions at 610 nm, whereas the water-in-oil emulsions were expressed as the height (cm) of the emulsion layers formed. The 72 h incubation experiment resulted in a COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) reduction of 76% with Planococcus citreus strain and 70% with Pantoea agglomerans.The COD reduction with bacterial biosurfactants was over 50% in 24 h of incubation. The COD reduction showed that these strains and the surfactants produced could be used in bioremediation processes.

Os xilooligossacarídeos são açúcares não-convencionais (oligômeros formados por unidades de xilose), não-calóricos e não são metabolizados pelo organismo humano. São considerados prebióticos, uma vez que promovem seletivamente o crescimento de probióticos como Lactobacillus sp. e Bifidobacterium bifidum, promovendo uma série de benefícios à saúde humana, como a redução da constipação intestinal, a promoção da digestão e a absorção de nutrientes, a prevenção de infecções gastrintestinais e a inibição do crescimento de microrganismos patogênicos. Este artigo de revisão demonstra a produção de xilooligossacarídeos, tendo como fonte materiais lignocelulósicos, através de métodos químicos e enzimáticos, e também a sua aplicação como ingredientes em alimentos, salientando os efeitos benéficos à saúde provindos desses tipos de compostos.

Xylooligosaccharides are non-conventional sugars (sugar oligomers made of xylose units), non-calorics and non-digestible by humans. They are recognyzed as prebiotics once there are non digestible food ingredient that stimulate selectively probiotic growth like Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium bifidum, promoting several benefices to the human health as the reduction of the gut constipation, the increase of the digestion and nutrient absorption, prevention of gastrointestinal infections, and the inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms. This article reviews the production of xylooligosaccharides from lignocellulosic materials (by chemical or enzymatic methods) and its end products, as well as their application as food ingredients, with special attention to the beneficial effects caused on health by these types of compounds.

Effluents generated by the textile industry are of environmental concern because of the presence of dyes with complex molecular structure, which confer them recalcitrant characteristics. Indigo is one of the most widely used dyes within the textile sector and studies have suggested that edible fungi may be capable of its biodegradation. A textile effluent was mixed with sugarcane bagasse and inoculated with Pleurotus sajor-caju, the decolorization being evaluated after 14 days, when the process was observed. Enzymatic activities of laccase, peroxidase and manganese peroxidase were determined, the production of these ligninolytic enzymes being evident and a synergism among them being likely in the decolorizing process.