Journal Article

Cellobiose lipids: applications, production, and downstream processing

Ncube, Mellisa Z., Valkenburg, André D., Pott, Robert W.M., Teke, George M., van Rensburg, Eugéne

2025

Overview

Cellobiose lipids (CBLs) are glycolipid biosurfactants that are widely applicable across diverse industries.CBLs have remarkable gelling, surface-active, and antifungal properties, making them ideal compounds for developing novel biotechnologies (e.g., biomaterials, detergents, and emulsifiers) with commercial potential.Various production methodologies have been developed via an interplay between producing organisms, media, and production approaches, each with its unique advantages and limitations toward scalability.Significant exploration is still required regarding downstream processing of CBLs because an optimised and scalable downstream technique is needed to complete the biotechnological cycle of CBL production.Finally, the industrialisation of CBL production requires the implementation of techno-economic and life-cycle assessments, which are currently understudied. Cellobiose lipids (CBLs) are glycolipid biosurfactants that have garnered attention due to their potential applications in diverse industries. Here, we review the current state of CBL research, from production and purification, to the potential applications of CBLs. We elucidate CBL functionality and consider some commercial applications, as well as how operating conditions (e.g., media and organism, or production approaches) impact productivity. Methodologies based on enzymatic synthesis or postproduction chemical modification of CBL variants are also presented. Given the importance of purity in current CBL applications, we discuss CBL separation and purification techniques. Finally, we highlight the importance of techno-economic and life-cycle assessments for the industrialisation of CBLs, while suggesting potential future routes for investigation. Cellobiose lipids (CBLs) are glycolipid biosurfactants that have garnered attention due to their potential applications in diverse industries. Here, we review the current state of CBL research, from production and purification, to the potential applications of CBLs. We elucidate CBL functionality and consider some commercial applications, as well as how operating conditions (e.g., media and organism, or production approaches) impact productivity. Methodologies based on enzymatic synthesis or postproduction chemical modification of CBL variants are also presented. Given the importance of purity in current CBL applications, we discuss CBL separation and purification techniques. Finally, we highlight the importance of techno-economic and life-cycle assessments for the industrialisation of CBLs, while suggesting potential future routes for investigation.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: antifungal / Antifungal agents / Antimicrobial agents / Bacteria / biosurfactant / Biosurfactants / biotechnology / Biotechnology - methods / Cellobiose / Cellobiose - biosynthesis / Cellobiose - chemistry / Cellobiose - isolation & purification / Cellobiose - metabolism / cellobiose lipids / Chemical modification / Chemical synthesis / Cosmetics / Detergents / Enzymatic synthesis / Enzymes / Fungi / glycolipids / Glycolipids - biosynthesis / Glycolipids - chemistry / Glycolipids - isolation & purification / industrialization / Internal Medicine / Life cycle analysis / Lipids / Lipids - chemistry / Lipids - isolation & purification / Pathogens / Phase transitions / production / Purification / Skin / Solvents / Surface-Active Agents - chemistry / Surface-Active Agents - isolation & purification / Surface-Active Agents - metabolism / Surfactants