Sophorolipids were biosynthesized using a strain of yeast, Torulopsis bombicola ATCC22214. It has been reported that this yeast gives the highest yields for the production of biosurfactant sophorolipids. Hence, this yeast was used in this study. One of the objectives of this study is to increase the yield of the sophorolipid synthesis. To meet this end, basic culture medium was formulated on the basis of literature research to-date. When this medium was used, the increase in yield from 15% to 150% was observed compared to using the media in the literature. To examine how the interfacial characteristics of sophorolipids change with substrate, glucose (the first carbon source) was maintained in the media and after being cultured for three days, the second carbon sources such as alkanes, vegetable oils, alcohols or organic acids were added. The whole broth was extracted twice with ethyl acetate and the extract was analyzed by thin layer chromatograhy(TLC). After qualitative analyses by TLC, surface tensions of sophorolipids were measured by the Wilhelmy plate method and critical micelle concentration(CMC) was determined using these surface tension data. Also, interfacial tensions were measured by the spinning drop method and emulsions of the three-component water/decane/sophorolipid system were tested. Sophorolipids were effective and efficient in terms of surface tension reduction and CMC, but they were ineffective as emulsifiers because emulsions were separated within 30 minutes.

바이오계면활성제는 생물학적으로 박테리아나 효모 등에 의해 많은 기질로 부터 생산된다. 바이오계면활성제는 많은 다른 합성 계면활성제에 비해서 환경친화적이고 보다 효과적인 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 Candida bombiocola로부터 생성된 소포로리피드의 항균효과를 다양한 균에 대해서 시험하였다. 소포로리피드의 치아우식 원인균(S. mutans), 액취균(C. xerosis) 및 여드름균(P. acnes)에 대한 최소억제농도(MIC)는 각각 0.005, 0.05, 0.005 % (w/v)이였다. 이러한 항균효과는 합성 계면활성제인 SLS나 APG에 비해 우수한 항균효과를 보였다. 소포로리피드를 함유한 제형에서의 각질박리와 보습 효과를 측정하였다. 0.25 % 수용액의 소포로리피드는 5.0 % 젖산 수용액과 동등한 수준의 각질박리효과를 보였으며 보습효과는 소포로리피드를 함유한 에멀젼 제형에서 농도 의존적인 경향을 보였다. 이러한 결과는 소포로리피드을 항균제나 보습 또는 각질박리제로서 화장품에 대한 사용 가능성을 제시한다.