Characteristics of mannosylerythritol lipids and their environmental potential

•The structure of MELs through sugar moiety analysis and fatty acid profile analysis were summarized in detail.•The synthetic pathway of MELs and the additional enzymic pathway were reconsidered.•The environmental potential of MELs in three aspects was discussed.•The future prospectives of MELs were also recommended.

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are promising biosurfactants containing two glycosyl derivatives and various fatty acids, which are mainly secreted by Pseudozyma as well as Ustilago. In this review, the latest research is demonstrated on production conditions, structural diversity, self-assembling properties and versatile biochemical functions of MELs. The genetic study and synthetic pathways, which mainly influence the type and yield of MELs production. Due to the excellent surface activity, biocompatibility and restorative function, MELs can be used in enviornmental industry, which has not been widely noted. In this paper, the current status of research on enviornmental potential of MELs has been discussed including petroleum degradation, bioconversion of chemical wastes and enhanced bioremediation of amphiphilic wastes.

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