Skip to main content
Log in

The reduction of wax precipitation in waxy crude oils by Pseudomonas species

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology

Abstract

Crude oil with different concentrations was subjected to Pseudomonas species at 37 °C and various incubation periods. The results showed that Pseudomonas species grew faster at 1% (v/v) concentration of crude oil and exhibited high biodegradation ability within 1 week. On measuring the emulsification activity and emulsion stability during different stages of growth, in various immiscible hydrocarbons, it appeared that the species was able to produce a stable emulsion with a maximum at the end of stationary phase of growth. The gas chromatography analysis of the saturated hydrocarbons of crude oil showed that, an increase in concentration of iso-alkanes in the range of C15–C20, and a bioconversion of heavy iso-alkanes in the range of C21–C22+. Chemical analysis of crude oil by liquid chromatographic technique before and after growth showed that, the saturated alkanes were more degradable than aromatic and asphaltenic compounds. Treatment by Pseudomonas species may possibly be an effective method for the biodegradation of heavy paraffinic hydrocarbon leading to an enhancement in crude oil properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tahzibi A, Fatemeh K, Mahnaz MA (2004) Improved production of rhamnolipids by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant. Iran Biomed J 8(1):25–31

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kim HS, Yoon BD, Lee CH, Oh HM, Katsuragi T, Tani Y (1997) Production and properties of a lipopeptide biosurfactant from Bcillus subtilis C9. J Ferment Bioeng 84:41–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Lang S, Wagner F (1987) Structure and properties of biosurfactants. In: Kosaric N, Cairns WL, Gray NCC (eds) Biosurfactant and biotechnology surfactant science series. Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, pp 21–45

    Google Scholar 

  4. Banat IM, Samarah N, Murad M, Hoorne R, Banerjee S (1991) Biosurfactant production and use in the oil tank clean-up. World J Microbiol Biotech 7:80–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Banat IM, Makkar RS, Cameotra SS (2000) Potential commercial applications of microbial surfactant. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 53:495–508

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gutnick Y. Shabtai (1987) In: Kosaric N, Cairns WL, Gray NCC (eds) Biosurfactants and biotechnology, Chap. 8. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 237–238

  7. Maure MA, Dietrich FL, Diaz VA, Arganaraz H (1999) Microbial enhanced oil recovery pilot test in Piedras Coloradas field, Argentina. SPE 53715, pp 1–29

  8. Rocky Mountain Oil Field Testing Center (RMOFTC) (1997) December 17, Chemical and microbial paraffin control project. BDM Oklahoma/NIPER, 220N. Virginia

  9. Dietrich FL, Brown FG, Zhou ZH, Maure MA (1996) Microbial EOR technology advancement: case studies of successful projects. Soc Petrol Eng SPE 36746:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  10. Brochure of CPChem Company (2002). Microbial technology for improvement of oil quality

  11. Lazar I, Voicu A, Nicolescu C, Mucenica D, Dobrota S, Petrisor GI, Stefanescu M, Sandulescu L (1999) The use of naturally occurring selectively isolated bacteria for inhibiting paraffin deposition. J Petrol Sci Eng 22:161–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sadeghazad A, Ghaemi N (2003) Microbial prevention of wax precipitation in crude oil by biodegradation mechanism. Soc Petrol Eng SPE 80529:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hao R, Lu A, Zeng Y (2004) Effect on crude oil by thermophilic bacterium. J Petrol Sci Eng 43:247–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Fedorak PM, Foght JM, Westlake DWS (1983) Comparative studies on microbial degradation of aromatic and saturates in crude oil. In: Zajic JE, Cooper DG, Jack TR, Kosaric N (eds) Microbial enhanced oil recovery. Pennwell Publishing, Tulsa, pp 162–172

    Google Scholar 

  15. Asma (2007) Microbial treatment of waxy crude oils for mitigation of wax precipitation. J Petrol Sci Eng 55:111–121

  16. Vishniac W, Santer M (1957) The Thiobacilli. Bacteriol Rev 21:195–213

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Krieg NR, Holt JG (1984) Berge’s manual of systematic bacteriology, vol 1. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bradshaw LJ (1979) Laboratory microbiology. 3rd edn. W·B. Saunders Company. West Washington Square Philadelphia, 19105, p 19, 42, 88

  19. Banat IM (1995) Biosurfactants production and use in microbial enhanced oil recovery and pollution remediation: a review. Bioresour Technol 51:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Cooperand Goldenberg (1982) Biosurfactants and enhanced oil recovery. In: Pro. int. conf microbial enhanced oil recovery, Afton, ok, doe conf, 85051. vol 40, pp 112–114

  21. Ali LH, Shebi AA, Al·Na, Idh M (2000) Studies on the chemical nature of maltenes separated from sludge deposits. In: 7th inter. conference on stability and handling of liquid fuels (IASH), Graz

  22. American Standard Test Method (ASTM D 2549–91) Standard test method for separation of representative aromatics and nonaromatics fractions of high-boiling oils by elution chromatography

  23. Benbatta S, Touzi A (1995) Isolation of biosurfactant producing bacteria from oil contaminated soils. New technologies applied to hydrocarbon production. 12–15 Sep., Delft, pp 290–294

  24. Santa Anna LM, Sebastian GV, Menezes EP, Alves TLM, Santos AS, Pereira N, Jr., Freire DMG (2002) Production of biosurfactants from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1 isolated in oil environments. Braz J Chem Eng 19

  25. Jobson A, Cook FD, Westlake DWS (1972) Microbial utilization of crude oil. J Appl Microbiol 1082–1089

  26. Aldrett S, Bonner JS, Mills MA, Autenrieth RL, Stephens FL (1997) Microbial degradation of crude oil in marine environments tested in a flask. Water Res 31:2840–2848

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The work is sponsored by the Libyan Petroleum Institute and the Chemical Engineering Department, AlFatah University, Libya.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Etoumi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Etoumi, A., El Musrati, I., El Gammoudi, B. et al. The reduction of wax precipitation in waxy crude oils by Pseudomonas species. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 35, 1241–1245 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-008-0420-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-008-0420-z

Keywords

Navigation