Providing comprehensive, up-to-the minute discussions of all aspects that relate to the physical and chemical properties, manufacture, and industrial uses of biosurfactants, this important new reference offers first-hand accounts of biosurfactant research from leading biotechnology laboratories.It also introduces promising possible uses of biosurfactants in medicine, in environmental control, and for marine organisms! Illustrating a wide range of applications for various industries and supplying a comprehensive overview of production,this text - reviews the biosynthetic mechanisms for surfactants and their precursor molecules; examines immobilized biocatalyst, lipopeptide, and rhamnolipid production; highlights glycolipid biosynthesis; explicates genetic engineering of surface-active compounds and the biophysics of microbial surfactants; evaluates biological activities and microbial lipopolysaccharides; assesses the application of biosurfactants in environmental control; focuses on pulmonary surfactants; furnishes information on the economics of biosurfactants as a key to industrial applications. With the authoritative contributions of more than 30 leading international experts and containing more than 1430 literature citations, tables and figures,this book provides a resource for physical, surface, and colloid chemists; petrochemical, chemical, biochemical, petroleum, and pollution control engineers; pharmacologists; cosmetic scientists; food scientists; microbiologists; biotechnologists; and graduate-level and continuing education students in these disciplines.