Abstract
Biosurfactants are one of the microbial bioproducts that are in most demand from microbial-enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). We isolated and screened potential biosurfactant-producing bacteria, followed by biosurfactant production and characterization, and a simulation of the MEOR application to biosurfactants in a sand-packed column. Isolate screening was conducted based on qualitative (hemolytic blood assay and oil-spreading test) and semi-qualitative (emulsification assay and interfacial tension measurement) parameters. Bacterial identification was performed using 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis. Sequential isolation yielded 32 bacterial isolates, where Pseudomonas sp. G3 was able to produce the most biosurfactant. Pseudomonas sp. G3 had the highest emulsification activity (Ei = 72.90%) in light crude oil and could reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water from 12.6 to 9.7 dyne/cm with an effective critical-micelle concentration of 0.73 g/L. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum revealed that the biosurfactant produced was a glycolipid compound. A stable emulsion of crude extract and biosurfactant formed at pH 2–12, up to 100 °C, and with a NaCl concentration of up to 10% (w/v) in the response-surface method, based on the Box–Behnken design model. The sand-packed column experiment with biosurfactant resulted in 20% additional oil recovery. Therefore, this bacterium and its biosurfactant show potential and the bacterium is suitable for use in MEOR applications.
Highlights
The demand for energy resources continues to increase with time
A thermophilic biosurfactant-producing microorganism was isolated from a heavy oil reservoir and identified as Pseudoxanthomonas sp
The potential use of the biosurfactant produced by this bacterium for Microbial-enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) lies in its high emulsification activity in light crude oil (Ei value 72.90%) and its ability to lower the interfacial tension (IFT) from 12.9 to 9.7 dyne/cm with an effective critical-micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.73 g/l
Summary
The demand for energy resources continues to increase with time. Developments in renewable energy are expected to provide sustainable energy and environmentally friendly industries. Many projects that are related to renewable energy face challenges, including technical, social, and economic challenges. Existing energy resources should optimize production, while avoiding critical environmental risks. Microbial-enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is an alternative approach to optimize oil production from existing. Microorganisms produce biosurfactants, and the latter are important in the MEOR mechanism. Biosurfactants act as surface-active molecules that reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) between different fluid components, and enhance pseudosolubilization of oil in water by creating smaller oil droplets (Khire 2010). Injection of partially purified biosurfactants has increased the amount of recovered oil to 40%
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