Introduction
The release of hydrocarbons into the environment, whether
accidental or due to human activities, is a main cause of water and
soil pollution. Hydrocarbons contamination is a worldwide threat
which affects human health and has significant deleterious consequences
for ecosystems. Recently, an increased attention has
been paid to the development and implementation of innovative
technologies to remove these contaminants. Bioremediation was
proposed to be more effective, economic and environmentally
friendly technology (Madigan et al., 2000). In recent years, many
microbial ecologists have identified various microbial species that
are effective degraders of hydrocarbons in natural environments.
Metabolic processes of these organisms are capable of using
chemical contaminants as an energy source, rendering the contaminants
harmless products in most cases (Kamaludeen et al.,
2003). A promising method that can improve bioremediation
effectiveness of hydrocarbon contaminated environments is the
use of biosurfactants (Pacwa-Płociniczak et al., 2011). Biosurfactants
are amphiphilic compounds produced extracellularly or
as part of the cell membrane by variety of yeast, bacteria and