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Use of biosurfactant in the removal of oil from contaminated sandy soil
Author(s) -
Santa Anna Lídia M,
Soriano Adriana U,
Gomes Absai C,
Menezes Emerson P,
Gutarra Melissa LE,
Freire Denise MG,
Pereira Nei
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.1741
Subject(s) - rhamnolipid , contamination , chemistry , bioremediation , soil contamination , surface tension , soil water , environmental chemistry , crude oil , biodegradation , pulp and paper industry , critical micelle concentration , environmental science , aqueous solution , geology , soil science , organic chemistry , micelle , biology , bacteria , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , petroleum engineering , pseudomonas aeruginosa , ecology , engineering
The effectiveness of cell‐free rhamnolipid biosurfactant, derived from the culture medium at the end of fermentation was investigated for the removal of two different kinds of oil from contaminated sandy soils. The crude cultivation medium, containing 13.2 g L −1 of rhamnolipids, had a surface tension, interfacial tension and critical micellar concentration of 30 mN m −1 , 2 mN m −1 and 60 mg L −1 , respectively. The evaluation of biosurfactant in the culture medium (BM) and oil concentrations in the removal of oil from different contaminated sandy soil was performed using a statistical experimental design tool. Oil in sandy soil, containing predominantly aromatic or paraffinic hydrocarbons (5 to 10% w/w), was removed by as much as 91 and 78%, respectively, in the presence of reduced amounts of BM (6.3 to 7.9 g L −1 ). The progress of oil removal was monitored for 101 days and results indicated that removal efficiency in sandy soil with aromatic characteristics was relatively stable over the entire period. Based on these studies, it is concluded that use of a BM was effective in reducing oil concentrations in contaminated sandy soil. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry