Rhamnolipids have extensive potential applications and are the most promising biosurfactants for commercialization. The efficient and accurate identification and analysis of these are important to their production, application and commercialization. Accordingly, significant efforts have been made to identify and analyse rhamnolipids during screening of producing strains, fermentation and application processes. Cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide–methylene blue (CTAB-MB) test combines a series of indirect assays to efficiently assist in the primary screening of rhamnolipids-producing strains, while the secretion of rhamnolipids by these strains can be identified through TLC, FTIR, NMR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and HPLC-MS analysis. Rhamnolipids can be quantified by colorimetric methods requiring the use of concentrated acid, and this approach has the advantages of reliability, simplicity, low-cost and excellent reproducibility with very low technological requirements. HPLC-MS can also be employed as required as a more accurate quantification method. In addition, HPLC-ELSD has been established as the internationally acceptable measure of rhamnolipids for commercial purposes. The preparation of well-accepted rhamnolipids standards and modifications of analysis operations are essential to further enhance the accuracy and improve the simplicity of rhamnolipid analysis.

Key points

• Current status of R&D works on determination of rhamnolipids is listed

• Advantages and disadvantages of various types analysis are summarized

• Limitations of current rhamnolipid quantification are discussed

鼠李糖脂具有广泛的潜在应用，并且是最有前途的商业化生物表面活性剂。对它们的高效，准确的识别和分析对它们的生产，应用和商业化至关重要。因此，在筛选生产菌株，发酵和施用过程中，已经做出了巨大的努力来鉴定和分析鼠李糖脂。阳离子十六烷基三甲基溴化铵-亚甲基蓝（CTAB-MB）测试结合了一系列间接测定法，可有效协助初生鼠李糖脂菌株的初步筛选，而这些菌株鼠李糖脂的分泌可通过TLC，FTIR，NMR，电喷雾进行鉴定电离质谱（ESI-MS）和HPLC-MS分析。鼠李糖脂可以通过比色法定量，该比色法需要使用浓酸，并且该方法具有可靠性，简单性，低成本和极好的可重复性的优点，并且对技术的要求非常低。HPLC-MS也可以根据需要用作更准确的定量方法。此外，HPLC-ELSD已被确立为商业用途鼠李糖脂的国际可接受量度。广为接受的鼠李糖脂标准品的制备和分析操作的修改对于进一步提高鼠李糖脂分析的准确性和简化简便性至关重要。HPLC-MS也可以根据需要用作更准确的定量方法。此外，HPLC-ELSD已被确立为商业用途鼠李糖脂的国际可接受量度。广为接受的鼠李糖脂标准品的制备和分析操作的修改对于进一步提高鼠李糖脂分析的准确性和简化简便性至关重要。HPLC-MS也可以根据需要用作更准确的定量方法。此外，HPLC-ELSD已被确立为商业用途鼠李糖脂的国际可接受量度。广为接受的鼠李糖脂标准品的制备和分析操作的修改对于进一步提高鼠李糖脂分析的准确性和简化简便性至关重要。

关键点

•列出了测定鼠李糖脂的研发工作的当前状态

•总结了各种类型分析的优缺点

•讨论了目前鼠李糖脂定量的局限性