Utilization of methods of physicochemical and structural analysis in characterization of biosurfactants

This bachelor thesis deals with the very actual topic of biosurfactants. In the theoretical part of the thesis, a literature review on this topic was carried out and on the basis of this research, physicochemical and structural analysis techniques suitable for testing these substances were selected. In the practical part, the model biosurfactants were first characterized by standard methods used to study these compounds. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry was chosen as a standard technique of structural analysis. As an example of a universal technique for the study of aggregation behavior was used tensiometry. In the next part of the thesis there were designed and optimized alternative techniques usable for fast and inexpensive physicochemical analysis of these substances. It was mainly a microplate assay and its modified alternatives. Thus, the methods of low sample consumption, but also effective in confirming the presence and a possible amount determination of the biosurfactant content in the solution. The result of this work is a few simple methods that have been proven effective in studying biosurfactants