title: Biosurfactant production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa SP4 using sequencing batch reactors: effects of oil loading rate and cycle time.
abstract: In this present study, sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were used for biosurfactant production from Pseudomonasaeruginosa SP4, which was isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil in Thailand. Two identical lab-scale aerobic SBR units were operated at a constant temperature of 37 degrees C, and a mineral medium (MM) with palm oil was used as the culture medium. The effects of oil loading rate (OLR) and cycle time on the biosurfactant production were studied. The results indicated that the optimum conditions for the biosurfactant production were at an OLR of 2 kg/m(3)days and a cycle time of 2 days/cycle, which provided a surface tension reduction of 59%, a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 90%, and an oil removal of 97%. Under the optimum conditions, it was found that the biosurfactant production was maximized at an aeration time of 40 h. These preliminary results suggest that the SBR can potentially be adapted for biosurfactant production, and perhaps further developed, potentially for large-scale biosurfactant production.
authors.affiliation: The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Soi Chulalongkorn 12, Phayathai road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
authors.forename: Orathai
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pornsunthorntawee
authors.forename: Sasiwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maksung
authors.forename: Onsiri
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Huayyai
authors.forename: Ratana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rujiravanit
authors.forename: Sumaeth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chavadej
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D000073878:Palm Oil