Skip to main content
Log in

Bacteria-induced de-emulsification of oil-in-water petroleum emulsions

  • Published:
Biotechnology Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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.

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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00129302

Keywords

Navigation