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Glyphosate Bioremediation Facilitated by Serratia ureilytica-Derived Biosurfactants Using Amazonian Biodiversity: Genomic Insights and Adsorption Dynamics

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Paul RaceORCiD, Dr James StachORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

© 2026 by the authors. The pervasive environmental dispersal of glyphosate has established this herbicide as a dominant anthropogenic xenobiotic, necessitating advanced bioremediation strategies to restore soil integrity. This study assessed the bioremediation efficacy of biosurfactants produced by Serratia ureilytica BM01-BS in glyphosate-contaminated soils, establishing their adsorption dynamics and ecotoxicological safety. The strain S. ureilytica BM01-BS gave a biosurfactant yield of 3.7 g·L−1 with promising surface properties, utilizing babassu (Attalea speciosa) waste as the sole nutrient source. Whole-Genome Sequencing and Biosynthetic Gene Cluster mining identified a Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase cluster homologous to rhizomide-type lipopeptides responsible for biosurfactant production. Bioremediation assays in glyphosate-contaminated soils demonstrated a removal efficiency exceeding 95% in approximately 60 min, outperforming the synthetic surfactant SDS (20–30% efficiency). Kinetic and isothermal modeling suggest that the bioremediation process is governed by chemisorption, adhering to a pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.998) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 845 µg·kg−1. Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy confirmed that the biosurfactant effectively removes glyphosate and restores the soil’s mineral integrity, as evidenced by the complete disappearance of glyphosate-associated phosphonic and carboxylic bands. Ecotoxicological assessments verified the environmental safety of the bioremediation process. These findings position the BM01-BS biosurfactant as a sustainable, biodiversity-based adjuvant for enhancing ecological resilience in glyphosate-impacted landscapes.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Silva KWD, da Silva EC, Sa GCDS, Alves JDA, Santos DDA, Orsato A, Leite K, Silva DSD, Silva ARSD, Luis ZG, Santos FKAD, Bitencourt JAP, Quintella CM, Rodrigues PD, Camilios-Neto D, Race PR, Stach JEM, Santos SCD

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Xenobiotics

Year: 2026

Volume: 16

Issue: 2

Online publication date: 04/04/2026

Acceptance date: 01/04/2026

Date deposited: 12/05/2026

ISSN (print): 2039-4705

ISSN (electronic): 2039-4713

Publisher: MDPI

URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/jox16020062

DOI: 10.3390/jox16020062

Data Access Statement: S. ureilytica BM01-BS genome data are openly available in National Center for Biotechnology Information at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA1416668 (accessed on 10 March 2026).

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