Two-phase olive mill waste (alpeorujo) as carbon source for biosurfactant production

摘要

BACKGROUNDThe olive oil extraction process currently used in Spain and other Mediterranean countries generates large amounts of a semi-solid by-product known as alpeorujo' or two-phase olive mill waste' (TPOMW). Although TPOMW can be a source of valuable compounds, it is mostly dried and burnt to produce energy. This paper, and for the first time, reports the use of TPOMW as the main carbon source for the production of surfactin, a high added value biosurfactant, by Bacillus subtilisDSM 3256.