Emulsifying activity of hydrocarbonoclastic marine yeasts

Abstract

Marine yeast growth on four petroleum hydrocarbons induced the production of extracellular emulsifying agents (biosurfactants). Out of the 17 marine yeast isolates tested, 7 isolates, i.e., Candida parapsilosis, C. cantarelli, C. membranae-faciens, Candida sp. Debaryomyces hansenii, Rhodotorula glutinis and R. graminis exhibited this activity on kerosene and 3 of them i.e., Candida membranaefaciens, C. albicans and Candida sp. on diesel. The emulsification of the hydrocarbons provided larger surface area on the hydrocarbon for the yeast to attack, degrade and grow on them. The marine yeasts were isolated from Central Indian Ocean Basin and EEZ of India