Whole Cell Immobilization of Antibacterial Biosurfactant Producing Bacteria in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB)

Abstract

Whole cells immobilization is one of the methods to produced biosurfactant economically because no need to add the new pre-culture. This method has many advantages such as more stable in bioreactor production, could prevent cell release, and reduced dead cells replacement cost. Otherwise it was rapid, nontoxic, cheap, and versatile. PS109 isolate identified has the closest relation to Pseudomonas aeruginosa NBRC 12689. This isolate could produce biosurfactant using OPEFB medium and has antibacterial effect to Staphylococcus aureus. Immobilization of PS109 isolate in OPEFB showed the biosurfactant activity had the best activity until the second culture which was characterized by widened droplet shapes and clear zones produced in the oil spreading test, as well as decreased of surface tension, increased in emulsification activity, and also stability in cell numbers after washed by 0.85% NaCl. In conclusion, PS109 isolate which capable of producing biosurfactant can be immobilized in OPEFB and started to be stable on third until fourth culture cycle