Summary
Nocardia amarae has been shown to be a potent biological de-emulsifier of model oil-in-water emulsions and petroleum water-in-oil field emulsions. N. amarae is reported here to de-emulsify petroleum oil-in-water field emulsions. Parameters affecting the growth and the de-emulsifying ability of this bacterium have been examined. Bacteria-induced de-emulsifying activity could be useful in clarifying tailings ponds and sludges.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alberta Environment. (1978). Government Review Report of the Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment Reports. Submitted by Imperial Oil Ltd. for the Proposed Cold Lake In Situ Bitumen Recovery and Upgrading.
Cairns, W.L.; Cooper, D.G.; and Kosaric, N. (1981). “Bacteria-Induced De-emulsification”. 28th Congress of IUPAC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Cairns, W.L.; Cooper, D.G.; Zajic, J.E.; Wood, J.M.; and Kosaric, N. (1982). Characterization of Nocardia amarae as a Potent Biological Coalescing Agent of Water-Oil Emulsions. Appl. Environ. Micro., 43, 362–366.
Cairns, W.L.; Rumble, R.M.; and Kosaric, N. (1983). Chemical Species Contributing to the De-emulsifying Ability of Bacterial Cell Surfaces. In Biotechnology of Fats and Health, C. Ratledge, P.S.S. Dawson and J.B.M. Rattray (eds.), AOCS, Champaign, Illinois.
Coopers, D.G.; Zajic, J.E.; Cairns, W.L.; and Kosaric, N. (1980a). De-emulsification and Microbes. Biochemical Engineering Research Reports, Vol. VI. The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Intercontinental Engineering of Alberta Ltd. (1973). An Environmental Study of the Athabasca Tar Sands: Report and Recommendations to Alberta Department of the Environment. Edmonton, Alberta.
Stewart, A.L.; Gray, N.C.C.; Cairns, W.L.; and Kosaric, N. (1983). Bacteria-Induced De-emulsification of Water-in-Oil Petroleum Emulsions. Biotech. Lett., 5 (11), 725–730.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gray, N.C.C., Stewart, A.L., Cairns, W.L. et al. Bacteria-induced de-emulsification of oil-in-water petroleum emulsions . Biotechnol Lett 6, 419–424 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00129302
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00129302