Env Exp Biol (2013) 11: 125–130

The use of raw cheese whey and olive oil mill wastewater for rhamnolipid production by recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

This study concerns the potential of whey and olive oil mill wastewater for rhamnolipid production. The production of rhamnolipids in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its recombinant form expressing Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene (vgb) was studied. Rhamnolipid production by P. aeruginosa and the recombinant was examined using different carbon sources in defined medium containing 30 to 50% olive oil mill wastewater or whey, and cultivated at 30 and 37°C with agitation speed of 100 to 200 rpm for 96 h. The effect of vgb on rhamnolipid production was significant. The highest rhamnolipid level was obtained from whey in cultures grown at 37°C 100 rpm agitation, and reached 9.6 and 13.3 g L^–1 for 72 h using P. aeruginosa and its recombinant strain, respectively. The study showed that genetic engineering of strains with vgb may be an effective method to increase rhamnolipid production.