Morphology Evolution and Structural Reorganization of Enzyme-Biosurfactant Systems: Implications for Petroleum Interfacial Engineering.

The escalating demand for sustainable chemical solutions in petroleum engineering has catalyzed the development of bio-based formulations characterized by high interfacial activity and low environmental toxicity. This study investigates the intermolecular interactions and structural evolution within composite systems comprising representative glycolipid biosurfactants and carbohydrate hydrolases. Rheological and light scattering assessments reveal that the introduction of enzymes triggers a transition from large-scale micelles to highly dispersed micro-aggregates, accompanied by a significant reduction in the system's hydrodynamic resistance. Microscopic and spectroscopic evidence demonstrates that biosurfactants regulate enzyme aggregation behavior and promote the reorganization of amorphous enzyme clusters into more uniformly distributed microstructures through non-covalent interactions, including hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, time-resolved studies clarify a dynamic homogenization process where irregular aggregates evolve into stable, regular micro-aggregates. These findings provide fundamental insights into the structural organization and rheological behavior of enzyme-biosurfactant systems, offering a physicochemical foundation for the future rational design of bio-based formulations for potential petroleum-related interfacial engineering applications.