DEVELOPMENT OF BIOCHEMICALS-FUNCTIONALIZATION OF BIOSURFACTANTS AND NATURAL DYES

Under the aspect of environmental protection an increased demand for n atural fine chemicals has been observed. From this viewpoint, this pap er reviews current works on biodyes and attempts to describe their new functions. Biosurfactants have remarkably excellent surface active pr operties in spite of their bulky molecular structures, as well as good biodegradabilities and safety for living organisms. Furthermore, rham nolipid A and B, produced by a hydrocarbon-assimilating bacterium, sho wed pH-sensitive conversion of molecular aggregates in the form of mic elles, lipid particles, lamella, and vesicles. Curcumin derivatives we re prepared to achieve a lasting color of the original dye, and the ch aracteristics of microbial pyocyanine as a biodye were investigated. H ybrids of pyrene and biosurfactants were prepared to monitor the micro environmental conditions of various kinds of colloidal surfaces and bi ointerfaces with respect to their polarity and fluidity. (C) 1997 Else vier Science S.A.