ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of this work was to find new fungal sources of biosurfactants via bioprospecting and to produce biosurfactants from fungal isolates using inexpensive culture media. Methodology: Bioprocess tests were conducted with five fungal species isolated from soil from the Amazon region in order to investigate which of them presented the highest productivity in a kinetics experiment. The possibility of using the peels from the fruit of Astrocaryum aculeatum Meyer (PFAC), Bactris gasipaes Kunth (PFBG), Theobroma grandiflorum Schumann (PFTG), Musa paradisiaca (PFMP) as substrates was also evaluated. Results: Fusarium oxysporum LM 5634 had the highest productivity, and PFBG was the best substrate for biosurfactant production. Conclusion: Thus, the present study showed the potential of fungi and wastes (fruit peels) from the Amazon region for biosurfactant production.