2026-06-30T04:56:55Zhttps://riubu.ubu.es/oai/request

oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/118402026-06-12T00:05:39Zcom_10259_6168com_10259_5086com_10259_2604col_10259_6169

Khan, Aqib Hassan Ali Tanveer, S. Kiyani, A Barros García, Rocío Iqbal, M. Yousaf, S. Khan, A. H. A. Kiyani, A. Barros, R. 2026-06-11T08:09:52Z 2026-06-11T08:09:52Z 2023-06 0003-6838 https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11840 10.1134/S0003683823030109 1608-3024 The biosurfactant production can enhance the hydrocarbon biodegradation, as the hydrophobicity of these compounds reduces the degradation rates. Much of the attention was given to microbial hydrocarbon biodegradation, while limited work is present regarding the capacity of fungal biosurfactants for enhancing the remediation process. This research work identified the potential of biosurfactant production and hydrocarbon degradation of selected fungal strains belonging to Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Candida genera in contrast to a hydrocarbon-degrading and biosurfactant non-producing fungal strain. The highest biodegradation was noted for Aspergillus niger FA5 (90.7%), followed by Penicillium chrysogenum FP4 and Aspergillus terreus FP6 (87.4 and 85.0%, respectively), and lastly, Candida sp. FG2 (80.1%). Biosurfactant-producing hydrocarbon degrading fungal strains A. niger FA5, P. chrysogenum FP4, A. terreus FP6, and Candida sp. FG2 degraded hydrocarbons 1.32-, 1.27-, 1.24-, and 1.18-fold higher than non-producing A. flavus FP10 (68.6%). When the data were analyzed for correlation, hydrocarbon degradation was found negatively corelated to surface tension (r = –0.747, p = 0.005), while positively correlated with emulsification index (r = 0.964, p < 0.001), and cell hydrophobicity (r = 0.835, p < 0.001). The results indicate that fungi capable of attaching hydrocarbons at high concentration to the cell surface and effectively reducing surface tension were able to exhibit significant improvements in the rate of hydrocarbon degradation. Hence, it is concluded that if a fungus can produce biosurfactant that can improve hydrocarbon emulsification and reduce surface tension, the hydrocarbon breakdown can be accelerated from 12 to 22% compared to non-producers The authors are highly thankful for the research faculties provided at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Further authors are thankful to Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission for allocating funding (2AV1-084) to Mr. Khan and Dr. Yousaf under the Indigenous 5000 PhDs scheme application/pdf eng Springer Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology. 2023, V. 59, n. 3, p. 282-289 https://doi.org/10.1134/S0003683823030109 Biosurfactant Fungi Aspergillus Penicillium Candida Diesel oil Biodegradation Hydrophobicity Hidrocarburos Biodegradación Hongos Hydrocarbons Biodegradation Fungi Biosurfactant-producing Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Candida Performed Higher Biodegradation of Diesel Oil than a Non-producing Fungal Strain info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology 59 3 282 289