Abstract

VILASO CADRE, Javier Ernesto; RODRIGUEZ GAMEZ, Odalys  and  ABALOS RODRIGUEZ, Arelis. EXTRACTION OF OIL IN CONTAMINATED SOIL USING RHAMNOLIPIDS PRODUCED BY Pseudomonas aeruginosa ORA9. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2017, vol.33, n.3, pp.485-493. ISSN 0188-4999.  https://doi.org/10.20937/rica.2017.33.03.11.

Hydrocarbon removal using rhamnolipids has shown potential for use in remediation technologies of impacted ecosystems as well as increasing the efficiency of oil extraction wells. In this research, the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soil was evaluated using rhamnolipids produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ORA9. A stability study of rhamnolipids considering temperature, pH and ionic strength factors was performed. The rhamnolipids were stable in the tested conditions. A Box-Behnken design was employed to evaluate the influence of temperature, pH and contact time on the removal of petroleum from contaminated soil. All factors have a significative influence on the extraction of total petroleum hydrocarbons, increasing with temperature and contact time, and decreasing with pH. The maximum extraction was 75 %.

Keywords : remediation; hydrocarbons; Box-Behnken design.