The imminent potential of microbial surfactants in PPCP waste removal

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are emerging contaminants that may pose environmental and health risks. Due to their toxicity and recalcitrance, these pollutants cannot be efficiently removed by traditional wastewater treatment plants. As a result, they are increasingly pervasive in the environment. In recent years, research about PPCPs has garnered growing attention, resulting in a significant deal of concern over their occurrence, transition, and harm to the environment. Physical, biological, and chemical procedures, among others, have been intensively researched for the removal of PPCPs from wastewater. This chapter provides insight into the role of microbial biosurfactants as imminent PPCP removal agents. The origin, properties, applications, and role of microbial surfactants in bioremediation, wastewater treatment and PPCP wastewater treatment are essentially discussed. Various procedures and needs for the removal of PPCPs from wastewater are summarized.