Microbial degradation of waste hydrocarbons in oily sludge from some Romanian oil fields

• Published in: Journal of petroleum science & engineering 1999, Vol.22 (1), p.151-160
• Main Authors: Lazar, I., Dobrota, S., Voicu, A., Stefanescu, M., Sandulescu, L., Petrisor, I.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bacteria; Biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; Biological sewage treatment; Bioremediation; Bioremediation of oily sludges; Biotechnology; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Energy; Environment and pollution; Environmental biotechnology; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrocarbons; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons; Microbiology; Paraffin oils; Paraffin problems; Petroleum microbiology; Pollution caused by production, transportation and treatment of oil and oil shales. Water and soil pollution. Treatments. Pollution control; Sewage sludge
• ISSN: 0920-4105; 1873-4715
• DOI: 10.1016/S0920-4105(98)00064-3

During oil production and processing activities, significant quantities of oily sludge are produced. The sludge represents not only an environmental pollution source but also occupies big spaces in storage tanks. Romania, an experienced European oil-producing and processing country, is faced with environmental problems generated by oily sludge accumulations. Many such accumulations are to be submitted to bioremediation processes based on the hydrocarbon degradation activity of naturally occurring, selectively isolated bacteria. In this paper the results concerning a laboratory screening of several natural bacterial consortia and laboratory tests to establish the performance in degradation of hydrocarbons contained in oily sludges from Otesti oil field area, are presented. As a result of the laboratory screening, we selected six natural bacterial consortia (BCSl-I 1 to BCSl-I 6) with high ability in degradation of hydrocarbons from paraffinic and non-paraffinic asphaltic oils (between 25.53%–64.30% for non-paraffinic asphaltic oil and between 50.25%–72.97% for paraffinic oil). The laboratory tests proved that microbial degradation of hydrocarbons contained in oily sludge from Otesti oil field area varied from 16.75% to 95.85% in moving conditions (Erlenmeyers of 750 ml on rotary shaker at 200 rpm) and from 16.85% to 51.85% in static conditions (Petri dishes Ø 10 cm or vessels of 500 ml).