Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TSBSO 3.8, a biosurfactant-producing strain with biotechnological potential for microbial enhanced oil recovery.
A screening for biosurfactant-producing bacteria was conducted with 217 strains that were isolated from environmental samples contaminated with crude oil and/or petroleum derivatives. Although 19 promising biosurfactant producers were detected, strain TSBSO 3.8, which was identified by molecular methods as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, drew attention for its production of a high-activity compound that presented an emulsification activity of 63% and considerably decreased surface (28.5 mN/m) and interfacial (11.4 mN/m) tensions in Trypticase Soy Broth culture medium. TSBSO 3.8 growth and biosurfactant production were tested under different physical and chemical conditions to evaluate its biotechnological potential. Biosurfactant production occurred between 0.5% and 7% NaCl, at pH values varying from 6 to 9 and temperatures ranging from 28 to 50 °C. Moreover, biosurfactant properties remained the same after autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min. The biosurfactant was also successful in a test to simulate microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). Mass spectrometry analysis showed that the surface active compound was a surfactin, known as a powerful biosurfactant that is commonly produced by Bacillus species. The production of a high-efficiency biosurfactant, under some physical and chemical conditions that resemble those experienced in an oil production reservoir, such as high salinities and temperatures, makes TSBSO 3.8 an excellent candidate and creates good expectations for its application in MEOR.
Laboratório de Genética Microbiana, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
Vanessa Marques
VM
Alvarez
Laboratório de Genética Microbiana, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
Diogo
D
Jurelevicius
Laboratório de Genética Microbiana, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
Joana Montezano
JM
Marques
Laboratório de Genética Microbiana, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
Pamella Macedo
PM
de Souza
Laboratório de Biotecnologia Microbiana, Instituto de Química, UFRJ, Brazil.
Livia Vieira
LV
de Araújo
Laboratório de Biocatálise e Síntese Orgânica, Instituto de Química, UFRJ, Brazil.
Thalita Gonçalves
TG
Barros
Laboratório de Biocatálise e Síntese Orgânica, Instituto de Química, UFRJ, Brazil.
Rodrigo Octavio Mendonça Alves
RO
de Souza
Laboratório de Biotecnologia Microbiana, Instituto de Química, UFRJ, Brazil.
Denise Maria Guimarães
DM
Freire
Laboratório de Genética Microbiana, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil. Electronic address: lseldin@micro.ufrj.br.
Lucy
L
Seldin
D001407:Bacillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001709:Biotechnology; D004655:Emulsions; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D010578:Petroleum; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
D004655:Emulsions; D010578:Petroleum; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens; Biosurfactant; Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR); Surfactin