Abstract
Objectives
Sulfate-reducing bacteria and H2S exist widely in oil production systems, and in situ production of rhamnolipids is promising for microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). However, information of the effect of S2− on rhamnolipids production is scarce.
Results
Two facultative anaerobic rhamnolipids-producing bacterial strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa SG and WJ-1, were used. Above 10 mg S2−/l, both cell growth and rhamnolipids production were inhibited. A large inoculum (9 %, v/v) failed to completely relieve the inhibitory effect of 10 mg S2−/l. Below 30 mg S2−/l, both strains resumed rhamnolipid production through co-culturing with the denitrifying and sulphide-removing strain Pseudomonas stutzeri DQ1.
Conclusions
H2S has a direct but reversible inhibitory effect on rhamnolipids production. Control of H2S in oilfields is indispensable to MEOR, and the co-culture method is effective in restoring rhamnolipid production in presence of S2−.
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Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31100098) and the Program of China Daqing Oilfield Company Limited. Thanks Professor Hanping Dong for providing bacterial strain P. aeruginosa WJ-1.
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Zhao, F., Ma, F., Shi, R. et al. Production of rhamnolipids by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is inhibited by H2S but resumes in a co-culture with P. stutzeri: applications for microbial enhanced oil recovery. Biotechnol Lett 37, 1803–1808 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-015-1859-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-015-1859-4