[The influence of growth medium composition and physicochemical factors on biosurfactant production by the bacterium Bacillus licheniformis VKM B-511].

The ability of Bacillus licheniformis strain VKM B-511 to grow and synthesize biosurfactants under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions has been demonstrated. Yields of biosurfactants, emulsion indices and surface tension were considerably higher in culture liquor and preparations derived from cultures grown anaerobically at a C/N ratio of 1 : 24, pH 7.0, and temperature of 30 degrees C. Biosurfactant production by B. lichenformis also depended on concentrations of NaCl and Na2S in the medium and on water characteristics, reaching 4.58 g/l for bacteria grown anaerobically on a medium containing anolyte fraction of water.