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Background:
Research project description: Mixed protein-surfactant systems are widely used in many industries such as food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics for the formation and stabilisation of emulsions and foams. They are also found in many biological systems for example blood serum is a mixture of protein human serum albumin and a number of low molecular weight surfactants. Therefore many studies have been carried out to understand their interactions with each other and their adsorption properties. They are both surface active molecules that provide stabilisation through different mechanisms. Proteins form a highly elastic interfacial layer that prevents rupture and coalescence of bubbles. Surfactants stabilise the interface via the Gibbs-Marangoni mechanism. The interaction and adsorption behaviour of these mixed systems depends on the nature of protein, concentration and type of surfactant present. Mixed protein-surfactant systems are often used to change the hydrophobicity of the protein which decreases the adsorption barrier and to reduce the cost of detergent mixture. This project aims to use mixed protein-surfactant systems to improve biosurfactant production and functionality through enhanced foam stability. This will contribute towards achieving large scale production of biosurfactants. Aims: 1. To characterise at least three biosurfactants (such as surfactin) for new application, verification of existing production method and quality control 2. To deepen our understanding of the competitive adsorption process at the air-water interface 3. To understand how mixed protein-surfactant systems can be used to improve biosurfactant separation (foam fractionation) and functionality
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