I want to test and compare the activity of a rhamnolipid and a sophorolipid sample. Is it essential to test the same range of concentrations for both biosurfactants, as both might have different effective concentrations?
No. You have two different (entirely unrelated) experiments. One experiment is with rhamnolipid and the other is with sophorolipid.
Typically the experiment is done in two parts. The first part is a preliminary trial to identify the best range. Doses are one or more orders of magnitude apart in this phase. In the second phase you have a rough idea of peak activity. You use a range of concentrations that is appropriate, with one dose that shows very low activity, and progressing to maximum activity. If appropriate there should be a dose that is well above peak activity, just to be sure that high doses do not result in inhibition or have unusual side effects.
You may want a third test wherein you look at how your biosurfactant behaves when used in field conditions. If this product will be sprayed and your first assay uses a dip method for application then you could have problems. In agricultural settings surfactants may have to withstand pump shear when applied through large tractor mounted sprayers.
Since you have two different treatments, I am thinking you can use different concentrations but both treatment must have the same unit for us to be able to compare the one that has the best activity.But you must have optimize and standardize to know the optimum activity from sporolipid and rhamnolipid to be tested.
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