Abstract
Typically, oil pollution cleanup procedures following first response actions include dispersion. Crude oil is biodegradable, and its bioavailability can be increased when dispersed into very fine droplets by means of chemical surfactants. Although their use is widely spread in many applications, the latter may prove toxic, depending on the extent of use. The use of biological means, such as bioremediation and biosurfactants, has emerged over the past years as a very promising ‘green’ alternative technology. Biosurfactants (BSs) are amphiphilic molecules produced by microorganisms during biodegradation, thus increasing the bioavailability of the organic pollutants. It is their biodegradability and low toxicity that render BSs as a very promising alternative to the synthetic ones. Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2 strain ability to produce BSs, without any impurities from the substrate, was investigated. The biosurfactant production was scaled up by means of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and a heavy oil residue substrate as the carbon source. The product is free from substrate impurities, and its efficiency is tested on oil bioremediation in the marine environment. The product’s dispersion efficiency was determined by the baffled flask test. The production method proposed can have a significant impact to the market, given the ever-increasing demand for ecologically friendly, reliable, commercially viable and economically competitive environmental cleanup techniques.
Highlights
Our perception on sustainable development has changed
The bacteria A. borkumensis SK2 was cultivated in microcosms with the same nutrients as in the bioreactor, and the growth curve was produced
Aiming at the growing biosurfactant market, which includes oil spill response, enhanced oil recovery, detergents, personal hygiene and cosmetics, a novel scaled up production scheme (Figure A8) is proposed that enables easy separation of the biosurfactant mixture from the growth media
Summary
Our perception on sustainable development has changed. In the past, sustainable development was defined as developing the quality of life as we live surrounded by our supporting ecosystems. The concept of ‘sustainability’ is emerging to include concomitantly environmental, economic and social equity, enforcing changes to the traditional way consumers and businesses operate and relate to each other. Society has to keep the environment clean by all means while being responsible in consuming and conserving it. The more society recognizes the value of the clean environment, the demand for effective cleanup techniques increases [1,2]. An uncontaminated environment that includes clean air, water, land and energy, is important for human survival, conducting business and making wealth. To this end, scientists, alongside companies and societal needs, make great efforts to improve water quality [2], important for preserving resources and public health
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