Synthetic and Biological Surfactants Used to Mitigate Biofouling on Industrial Facilities Surfaces

The adhesion of organisms to surfaces is an event that occurs in natural and artificial systems and is commonly known as bio-encrustation. The elimination of biofouling through less aggressive and ecological methods has aroused the interest of researchers and industries worldwide. Among the products with the greatest potential for altering surfaces, surfactants act at cell-cell and cell-surface interfaces, reducing surface hydrophobicity, the adherence of microorganisms, and the formation of biofilms. Biological surfactants have stood out for their versatility and proven effectiveness in recent years as valuable tools, especially due to their biodegradable characteristics when compared to synthetic surfactants. Thus, they can transform and modernize biotechnology by providing more robust antifouling technologies. This review discusses the possible roles and applications of synthetic and biological surfactants from different sources, such as biofouling reducing agents, addressing the potential alteration of surfaces, reducing surface tension, biological activities (antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anti-adherence), biodegradability, and anticorrosion activity. Market trends and the potential uses of these multifunctional biomolecules in biofouling control are also cited, along with examples from the literature using biosurfactants as antifouling agents.