Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology
Volume 51, Number 4, July 2012, pp. 290-294

SPE-149737-PA

Microbial-Enhanced Treatment of Oil Sludge From Oil-Production Plants Using Rhodococcus ruber Z25

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DOI  More information 10.2118/149737-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/149737-PA

Citation

  • Zheng, C., Yu, L., and Huang, L. 2012. Microbial-Enhanced Treatment of Oil Sludge From Oil-Production Plants Using Rhodococcus ruber Z25. J Can Pet Technol  51 (4): 290-294. SPE-149737-PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/149737-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 2.5.4 Waste Management
  • 2.5.7 Remediation

Keywords

  • oil sludge, total petroleum hydrocarbon, biodegradation, oil recovery, Rhodococcus ruber

Summary

Oil sludge is one of the most commonly encountered pollutants in oil-production companies and causes serious problems for the environment. In the present study, a novel microbial-enhanced oil-sludge treatment technology is discussed. The technology was able to achieve self-cycle operation by producing the biosurfactant by Rhodococcus ruber Z25 during the biodegradation process of the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and employing it for recovery of the oil sludge. The initial TPH and moisture content were 507 g/kg and 12%, respectively. After the crude/biosurfactant-suspension (CBS) treatment, only 31 g/kg of residual TPH remained in the oil sludge and the oil-recovery efficiency achieved 93.88%. The residual TPH was degraded further by cultivation of Rhodococcus ruber Z25, and a total of 1.27 g/L of biosurfactant was produced. The treated oil sludge contained 1.4 g/kg of residual TPH, and the system in the present study produced no additional pollutant to the environment.

© 2011. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 29 November 2010
  • Revised manuscript received: 31 May 2011
  • Manuscript approved: 6 June 2011
  • Published online: 14 December 2011
  • Version of record: 1 July 2012