Enhanced Oil Removal by a Non-Toxic Biosurfactant Formulation

Emília Mendes da Silva Santos, Isabela Regina Alvares da Silva Lira, Hugo Moraes Meira, Jaciana dos Santos Aguiar, Raquel Diniz Rufino, Darne Germano de Almeida, Alessandro Alberto Casazza, Attilio Converti, Leonie Asfora Sarubbo and Juliana Moura de Luna
Additional contact information
Emília Mendes da Silva Santos: Biotechnology Sector, Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil
Isabela Regina Alvares da Silva Lira: Biotechnology Sector, Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil
Hugo Moraes Meira: Biotechnology Sector, Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil
Jaciana dos Santos Aguiar: Center of Biological Sciences, Department of Antibiotics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Artur de Sá, s/n, Cidade Universitária, CEP, Recife 54740-520, Brazil
Raquel Diniz Rufino: Advanced Institute of Technology and Innovation (IATI), Rua Joaquim de Brito, 216, Boa Vista, Recife 50070-280, Brazil
Darne Germano de Almeida: Biotechnology Sector, Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil
Alessandro Alberto Casazza: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Pole of Chemical Engineering, Università degli Studi di Genova (UNIGE), Via Opera Pia 15, I-16145 Genova, Italy
Attilio Converti: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Pole of Chemical Engineering, Università degli Studi di Genova (UNIGE), Via Opera Pia 15, I-16145 Genova, Italy
Leonie Asfora Sarubbo: Biotechnology Sector, Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil
Juliana Moura de Luna: Biotechnology Sector, Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: In this study, a new formulation of low-cost, biodegradable, and non-toxic biosurfactant by Candida sphaerica UCP 0995 was investigated. The study was conducted in a bioreactor on an industrial waste-based medium, and a central composite rotatable design was used for optimization. The best results, namely a 25.22 mN/m reduction in surface tension, a biosurfactant yield of 10.0 g/L, and a critical micelle concentration of 0.2 g/L, were achieved in 132 h at an agitation speed of 175 rpm and an aeration rate of 1.5 vvm. Compositional and spectroscopic analyses of the purified biosurfactant by chemical methods, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance suggested that it is a glycolipid-type biosurfactant, and it showed no cytotoxicity in the MTT assay. The biosurfactant, submitted to different formulation methods as a commercial additive, remained stable for 120 days at room temperature. Tensioactive properties and stability were evaluated at different pH values, temperatures, and salt concentrations. The biosurfactant obtained with all formulation methods demonstrated good stability, with tolerance to wide ranges of pH, temperature and salinity, enabling application under extreme environmental conditions. Bioremediation tests were performed to check the efficacy of the isolated biosurfactant and the selected microbial species in removing oil from soil. The results demonstrated that the biosurfactant produced has promising properties as an agent for the bioremediation of contaminated soil.

Keywords: biosurfactant; industrial waste; petroleum contamination; Candida (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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