Use of biosurfactants produced from waste oil agribusiness in the bioremediation

Abstract

Bioremediation processes make use of micro-organisms to minimize pollutants from oil hydrocarbons, making it a strategic alternative to conventional technologies for contaminated areas remediation, with minimum operational cost and adverse effects to the environment. This study evaluates the potential for bioremediation by biosurfactants produced in mineral medium supplemented with alternative carbon sources such as vinasse, cassava wastewater (manipueira) and residual oil for frying. Fourteen microorganisms, selected for testing the biodegradability of oil, in the presence of the redox indicator 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP), were evaluated for the capacity of remove oil contaminated soils. The results showed that the biosurfactants in medium supplemented with mineral oil and manipueira at concentrations 1.5% were able to overcome the oil of beach sand polluted by oil in about 83% to the micro-organism isolated from soil. This percentage was higher than the commercial biosurfactants or synthetic existing and available on the market.