The cosmetics industry has been seeking to develop products with renewable natural ingredients to reduce the use of or even replace synthetic substances. Biosurfactants can help meet this demand. These natural compounds are renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic or have low toxicity, offering minimal risk to humans and the environment, which has attracted the interest of an emerging consumer market and, consequently, the cosmetics industry. The aim of the present study was to produce a biosurfactant from the yeast Starmerella bombicola ATCC 22214 cultivated in a mineral medium containing 10% soybean oil and 5% glucose. The biosurfactant reduced the surface tension of water from 72.0 ± 0.1 mN/m to 33.0 ± 0.3 mN/m after eight days of fermentation. The yield was 53.35 ± 0.39 g/L and the critical micelle concentration was 1000 mg/L. The biosurfactant proved to be a good emulsifier of oils used in cosmetic formulations, with emulsification indices ranging from 45.90 ± 1.69% to 68.50 ± 1.10%. The hydrophilic–lipophilic balance index demonstrated the wetting capacity of the biosurfactant and its tendency to form oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, with 50.0 ± 0.20% foaming capacity. The biosurfactant did not exhibit cytotoxicity in the MTT assay or irritant potential. Additionally, an antioxidant activity of 58.25 ± 0.32% was observed at a concentration of 40 mg/mL. The compound also exhibited antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic microorganisms. The characterisation of the biosurfactant using magnetic nuclear resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the biomolecule is a glycolipid with an anionic nature. The results demonstrate that biosurfactant produced in this work has potential as an active biotechnological ingredient for innovative, eco-friendly cosmetic formulations.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) shows high potential for food applications, yet its scalable production using whey-based substrates remains challenging. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of whey (40–100% v/v) and sucrose (0–50 g·L⁻¹) concentrations on BC synthesis in a medium formulated with black tea. Static cultures (28 ± 2 °C, 15 days) were carried out using an inoculum of 25% (v/v) of an adapted microbial consortium and compared to a whey-free control. The structural, physicochemical, and functional properties of BC were characterized by dry mass yield, hygroscopicity, FTIR, XRD, SEM, transparency, and mechanical tests. Although it did not alter the chemical structure of BC, whey exerted a strong impact on its synthesis: the formulation with the highest whey and sucrose contents showed the highest yield (9.56 ± 1.76 g·L⁻¹), with fibrils ranging in diameter from 50 to 100 nm. Although crystallinity decreased (57.30%), this result did not impair mechanical performance; on the contrary, such a treatment resulted in the highest tensile strength (13.43 ± 2.30 Mpa). Thus, modulating whey and sucrose concentration proves to be an effective strategy for adjusting the structural and functional properties of BC, highlighting the potential of the selected byproducts as low-cost substrates for technological applications in the food sector.

The development of innovative cosmetic ingredients has driven growing interest in emulsion systems that combine performance, stability, and sustainability. Pickering emulsions can form physically stable systems by adsorbing solid particles at the oil–water interface. In this study, bacterial cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and nanocrystals (CNCs), obtained via acid hydrolysis, were evaluated as stabilizing agents in Pickering emulsions containing jojoba, castor, and grape seed oils for hair conditioning applications. Structural and physicochemical characterization revealed that CNCs exhibited higher crystallinity, a narrower size distribution, and a higher negative surface charge than CNFs, resulting in enhanced colloidal stability. Emulsion analyses showed that CNCs more effectively reduced interfacial tension and produced smaller, more homogeneous droplets. Stability assessments under pH variation, thermal stress, and storage demonstrated that CNC-stabilized emulsions, particularly with castor oil, maintained stability indices above 95% for up to 60 days, whereas CNF-based systems showed greater sensitivity to environmental conditions. The incorporation of CNCs into a prototype conditioning cream resulted in a creamy texture and improved physical stability without compromising formulation performance. Overall, these results highlight CNCs as robust and efficient stabilizing materials for Pickering emulsions, reinforcing the potential of bacterial nanocellulose in advanced cosmetic formulations.

The shift toward sustainable cosmetic systems has become a strategic priority in response to rising environmental pressures, biodiversity loss, and regulatory demands for traceability and responsible sourcing. This review critically examines the Brazilian sustainability model in the cosmetics industry, focusing on three key pillars: (i) traceability and certification of origin aligned with international standards; (ii) community partnerships and equitable value sharing; and (iii) technological innovation tailored to local biodiversity contexts. It synthesizes scientific articles, regulatory documents, and industry reports published mainly between 2005 and 2025, including international certification schemes (COSMOS, ECOCERT, NATRUE, IBD) and Brazilian biodiversity laws. Quantitative export data show that Brazil’s cosmetic industry surpassed US$ 300 million in exports to major markets, emphasizing the global importance of sustainability-driven competitiveness. This study presents a conceptual framework combining biodiversity-based innovation, socio-environmental governance, and certification systems as a unique sustainability pathway distinct from traditional green cosmetic strategies. The review highlights technical challenges such as supply chain traceability, harmonization of international standards, regulatory asymmetries, and the scalability of community-based value chains. The findings indicate that Brazil’s model offers a hybrid sustainability architecture that combines biotechnological innovation, fair-benefit sharing mechanisms, and compliance with international standards. Future research should focus on quantitative impact assessment metrics, life-cycle evaluations of biodiversity-derived ingredients, and mechanisms for regulatory convergence to improve industrial scalability and global market integration.

Este artigo de revisão aborda estratégias biotecnológicas sustentáveis para a conversão de compostos de sulfato e resíduos lignocelulósicos, com foco na utilização de bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS) e na valorização de resíduos agroflorestais e esgoto sanitário. As BRS demonstram potencial no tratamento de efluentes, drenagem de minas e remoção de sulfato e metais pesados de águas residuais, sendo sua atividade metabólica influenciada por fatores como pH, temperatura e relação demanda química de oxigênio/sulfato — DQO/SO4=. No contexto de uma bioeconomia sustentável, o desafio de converter resíduos lignocelulósicos em produtos de valor agregado é abordado por meio de técnicas de pré-tratamento físico, como moagem, extrusão, irradiação por micro-ondas e ultrassom, eficientes na valorização de resíduos de poda de árvores urbanas. O artigo destaca a importância dos biorreatores na transformação de matérias-primas em produtos bioquímicos, discutindo diferentes tipos de biorreatores, como batelada, tanque agitado contínuo, airlift, leito fluidizado, reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente (UASB) e coluna de bolhas, e suas vantagens e desvantagens específicas. A redução sustentável do sulfato é o foco central, integrando a aplicação de BRS e a conversão de resíduos lignocelulósicos de maneira a complementar os objetivos do trabalho e promover um fluxo mais coeso no resumo. Assim, enfatiza-se a inter-relação entre as estratégias de tratamento de efluentes e a valorização de resíduos em uma perspectiva de sustentabilidade ambiental, destacando-se a relevância deste estudo no contexto mais amplo de uma bioeconomia sustentável.

Corrosion remains one of the major contemporary technological challenges, causing significant economic, environmental, and operational impacts on industrial systems. Although it is a spontaneous process inherent to metals and their alloys, its progression can be significantly mitigated by appropriate protection strategies. Traditionally, synthetic inhibitors have been widely used; however, their toxicity, environmental persistence, and increasing regulatory restrictions have prompted a search for greener alternatives. Biosurfactants stand out as promising green anticorrosive agents, acting through the formation of adsorbed films, reduction in wettability, modification of the metal–medium interface, and, in some cases, antimicrobial effects that inhibit the formation of corrosive biofilms. This review presents an integrated analysis of the main corrosion mechanisms, including uniform, localized, galvanic, and microbiologically influenced corrosion, with an emphasis on critical industrial environments such as the maritime, petrochemical, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Additionally, the main classes of biosurfactants are discussed, along with their key physical and chemical characteristics, including critical micelle concentration, thermal and saline stability, adsorption capacity, and their mechanisms of action in mitigating corrosion. Finally, the article summarizes the advances of the last decade, highlighting experimental studies, emerging applications, and technological trends that consolidate biosurfactants as viable, efficient, and environmentally safe alternatives for industrial corrosion protection.