A facile procedure of remediation for oily waste with rhamnolipid biosurfactant

Abstract

A facile remediation procedure of mousse oil waste was carried out by using rhamnolipids as the bioemulsifiers. Rhamnolipids (1 g/1) converted mousse oil into the OAV type emulsion. Deemulsification was successively achieved as a result of an pH‐adjustment to 4.0 or ferrous sulfate addition (100 mg/1). Most of the oil could be recovered by décantation and suction from the deemulsified mixture. The remnant aqueous layer containing some percent of oil was remediated by rhamnolipids‐assisted biodégradation. The final levels of oil and rhamnolipids of the aqueous layer after a series of procedures were under the detectable level.

Key words:

• Rhamnolipid
• emulsification
• deemulsification