Performance of a biosurfactant produced by a Bacillus subtilis strain isolated from crude oil samples as compared to commercial chemical surfactants

► A biosurfactant produced by a Bacillus subtilis strain was characterized and compared with chemical surfactants. ► The biosurfactant was found to be as stable as the commercial chemical surfactants to temperature changes. ► It showed equal or higher emulsifying activity as compared to the chemical surfactants. ► Also, the anti-adhesive activity was higher than the commercial chemical surfactants. ► This biosurfactant constitutes an interesting alternative to the commercial chemical surfactants with potential use in several industries.