Abstract
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.
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Nadarajah, N., Singh, A. & Ward, O.P. Evaluation of a mixed bacterial culture for de-emulsification of water-in-petroleum oil emulsions. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 18, 435–440 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015517308905
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015517308905