Evaluation of a mixed bacterial culture for de-emulsification of water-in-petroleum oil emulsions

A mixed bacterial culture, isolated from a petroleum-contaminated site, was evaluated for its de-emulsification capabilities using a kerosene-water model emulsion system and petroleum oilfield emulsion. The culture exhibited high de-emulsification activity with 96% de-emulsification of a water-in-oi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:World journal of microbiology & biotechnology 2002-07, Vol.18 (5), p.435-440
Main Authors: NADARAJAH, Nalina, SINGH, Ajay, WARD, Owen P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acinetobacter
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus
Acinetobacter radioresistens
Alcaligenes
Alcaligenes latus
Bacteria
Biological and medical sciences
Biotechnology
Chemical industry. Chemical engineering
Emulsions
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Microbiology
Oil and gas fields
Petroleum
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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Summary:A mixed bacterial culture, isolated from a petroleum-contaminated site, was evaluated for its de-emulsification capabilities using a kerosene-water model emulsion system and petroleum oilfield emulsion. The culture exhibited high de-emulsification activity with 96% de-emulsification of a water-in-oil emulsion within 24 h. Nine morphologically distinct pure colonies were isolated from the mixed culture and identified and their de-emulsification capabilities were tested. All three strains of Acinetobacter, i.e. A. calcoaceticus, A. calcoaceticus BV ALC and A. radioresistans were capable of providing > 90% de-emulsification, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. carboxydohydrogena, and Alcaligenes latus showed > 80% de-emulsification. Different de-emulsification patterns were observed between species of Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. The mixed culture exhibited higher de-emulsifier activity, as compared to the most effective pure culture, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, when de-emulsification ability was tested on an oilfield water-in-oil emulsion.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0959-3993
1573-0972
DOI:10.1023/A:1015517308905