Biodispersion as a method for removal of hydrocarbon oil from marine aqueous environments

Abstract

A method for removal of free-floating oil from an aqueous environment by bio-dispersion and bio-utilization comprising the steps of: (i) isolating species or strain of bacteria having an ability to utilize hydrocarbons as the only source of carbon; (ii) admixing the bacterium with a fatty substance and hydrocarbon oil to form an oleophilic suspension of the bacterium; (iii) applying the oleophilic suspension of bacteria to a free floating oil in an aqueous environment to disperse and remove free-floating oil therefrom. An oleophilic suspension comprising a fatty substance and a physiologically active bacterial culture of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria for removing free floating oil from an aqueous environment by bio-dispersion followed by bio-utilization.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for removal of free-floating oil from an aqueous environment by bio-dispersion and bio-utilization comprising the steps of: 
 (i) isolating species/strains of bacteria having an ability to utilize hydrocarbons as the only source of carbon;    (ii) admixing said bacteria with a fatty substance and hydrocarbon oil to form an oleophilic suspension comprising a physiologically active bacterial culture of hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium and    (iii) applying said oleophilic suspension of said bacteria to a free floating oil in an aqueous environment to disperse and remove free-floating oil therefrom.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said bacteria are obtained from the aqueous environment to be treated.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1   , comprising isolating multiple species or strains of bacteria.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 3   , wherein said species or strains of bacteria are derived from Pseudomonas, Phenylobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Gluconobacter, Agrobacterium, Vibrio, Acinetobacter, Micrococcus, or other oil degrading forms.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 4   , wherein said species or strain of bacteria is  Pseudomonas pseudoalkaligenes, Phenylobacterium immobile, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Gluconobacter cerinus, Agrobacterium radiobacter  or  Pseudomonas alcaligenes.    
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said bacteria is genetically manipulated.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said fatty substance is an organic fatty acid.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 7   , wherein said organic fatty acid is a synthetic fatty acid.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 7   , wherein said organic fatty acid is a natural fatty acid.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 7   , wherein said organic fatty acid is oleic acid or ricinic acid.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said fatty substance further comprises in an oleophilic nutrient.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein said oleophilic nutrient comprises nitrogen and phosphorus.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12    wherein said oleophilic nutrient is Inipol ®.  
     
     
         14 . An oleophilic suspension comprising a fatty substance and a physiologically active bacterial culture of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria for removing free floating oil from an aqueous environment by bio-dispersion followed by bio-utilization.  
     
     
         15 . The oleophilic suspension of    claim 14   , wherein said physiologically active bacterial culture of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria are indigenous to the aqueous environment.  
     
     
         16 . The oleophilic suspension of    claim 15   , wherein said hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria are derived from Pseudomonas, Phenylobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Gluconobacter, Agrobacterium, Vibrio, Acinetobacter, or Micrococcus.  
     
     
         17 . The oleophilic suspension of    claim 16   , wherein said strain of bacteria is  Pseudomonas pseudoalkaligenes, Phenylobacterium immobile, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Gluconobacter cerinus, Agrobacterium radiobacter  or  Pseudomonas alcaligenes.    
     
     
         18 . The oleophilic suspension of    claim 17   , wherein said fatty substance is an organic fatty acid which is dissolved in a hydrocarbon oil.  
     
     
         19 . The oleophilic suspension of    claim 18   , wherein said hydrocarbon oil is diesel oil, weathered oil, or crude oil.  
     
     
         20 . The oleophilic suspension of    claim 14   , wherein said fatty substance further comprises an oleophilic nutrient.  
     
     
         21 . The oleophilic suspension of    claim 20   , wherein said nutrient comprises nitrogen and phosphorus introduced as micro-emulsion.  
     
     
         22 . The oleophilic suspension of    claim 21   , wherein said oleophilic nutrient is Inipol®.  
     
     
         23 . The oleophilic suspension of    claim 14   , comprising between 1% and 15% by volume of said fatty substance dissolved in hydrocarbon oil.  
     
     
         24 . A method of making an oleophilic suspension comprising a fatty substance and a physiologically active bacterial culture of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria for removing free floating oil from an aqueous environment by bio-dispersion followed by bio-utilization, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (i) enriching hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria from a sample of water;    (ii) admixing said enriched hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria with a fatty substance dissolved in hydrocarbon oil to form a suspension; and    (iii) selecting those bacteria which are capable of bio-dispersion and bio-utilization.    
     
     
         25 . The process of    claim 1   , wherein said aqueous environment is and industrial wastewater containing oil.  
     
     
         26 . The process of    claim 25   , wherein said aqueous environment is ballast water, bilge water or refinery wastewater.  
     
     
         27 . The process of    claim 1   , wherein said aqueous environment is fresh water.