Industrial additives obtained through microbial biotechnology: biosurfactants and prebiotic carbohydrates.

Industrial biotechnology has expanded considerably in recent years bringing new possibilities for the production of industrial additives. Among the most studied compounds are the non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs) that are related to the bioavailability of minerals, modulation of the immune system, prevention of gastrointestinal infections, regulation of metabolism disorders related to obesity and type 2 diabetes, and many other important health allegations. There is an increasing market for health-promoting NDO food ingredients whose industrial applications are focused on dairy products, beverages, milk products and many others. Additionally, another class of additives that are very important for industry, and that have been extensively studied by means of biotechnological processes, is biosurfactants synthesized by fungi, yeasts and bacteria, which exhibit high surface activity and emulsifying activity. Considering their characteristics and physico-chemical properties, the biosurfactants present interesting applications, such as for bioremediation, enhancement of oil recovery, industrial applications in food additives, cosmetics and others. In this perspective, this chapter is focused on the biotechnological production of surfactants and prebiotic carbohydrates, and aims to show their potential to industry, especially when obtained by means of biotechnological processes. Additionally, this chapter includes an extensive and recent review of the literature, highlighting key advances in the production of additives through microbial biotechnology, the potential and challenges of this area and the future prospects.