title: Biosurfactant production and use in oil tank clean-up.
abstract: A proprietary bacterial strain (Pet 1006) produced biosurfactants when grown on both glucose and an immiscible hydrocarbon as carbon sources. Pilot-plant-scale (1500 I) production gave, on repeated batch runs, 2 tonnes of culture broth containing active biosurfactant. The product was used as a substitute for chemical surfactants in a clean-up demonstration test carried out by Cargo Fleet Chemical Company Ltd. (UK) on an oil storage tank belonging to Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait. The clean-up was successful in removing the sludge from the tank bottom, and it also allowed the recovery of more than 90% of the hydrocarbon trapped in the sludge. The recovered hydrocarbon had excellent properties and could be sold after being blended with fresh crude.
authors.affiliation: , .
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Banat
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samarah
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee