Biosurfactant as an Environmental Remediation Agent: Toxicity, Formulation, and Application in the Removal of Petroderivate in Sand and Rock Walls

Abstract

The exploitation and transportation of petroleum products are important reasons for environmental concern since they are the major causes of accidents involving oil spills. Therefore, the biosurfactant produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus UCP1615 was applied in the removal of motor oil from sand and stones from coastal regions. Bioassays carried out with the microcrustacean Artemia salina and three vegetables' seeds showed that the biosurfactant has reduced toxicity. The application of the biosurfactant in crude and isolated form, as a removal agent, was carried out in static and kinetic tests using sand contaminated with motor oil, in packed columns, and in flasks under orbital agitation, respectively. The results showed that the biosurfactant removed 63.0 ±2.1% of the hydrocarbon in the static test and 84.0 ±2.2% in the dynamic test. In tests using rock wall samples, the removal rates reached 69.0 ±2.0%. Conservation tests carried out during 120 days demonstrated that the surfactant activities were maintained, especially in the presence of the preservative potassium sorbate. The B. cereus biosurfactant has proven to be a biocompatible, effective, and stable alternative for applications in environments contaminated with hydrophobic compounds and can be industrially stored for application in the event of possible environmental disasters.