Search for Biosurfactant-Producing Microorganisms in Oil-Contaminated Soils for Use in Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology

Author details
  • TatNIPIneft R&D Institute of the PJSC TATNEFT named after V.D. Shashin, Almetyevsk, Russian Federation
  • TatNIPIneft R&D Institute of the PJSC TATNEFT named after V.D. Shashin, Almetyevsk, Russian Federation
  • TatNIPIneft R&D Institute of the PJSC TATNEFT named after V.D. Shashin, Almetyevsk, Russian Federation
  • TatNIPIneft R&D Institute of the PJSC TATNEFT named after V.D. Shashin, Almetyevsk, Russian Federation

Abstract

This study focuses on the identification and isolation of microorganisms producing biological surfactants (biosurfactants) from oil-contaminated soils for subsequent use in environmentally friendly enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies. The relevance of this work stems from the need to develop effective and environmentally friendly methods for extracting hard-to-recover reserves (HRR) that minimize environmental risks compared to traditional physical and chemical EOR methods. Twenty strains of hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms were isolated and identified from oil-contaminated soil samples in accordance with GOST 17.4.4.02-2017. Microbiological analysis (MUK 4.2.3695-21) confirmed the absence of pathogenic microflora. Six isolated strains (Bacillus spp. 10RE, Citrobacter spp. 14RE, Bacillus spp. 17RE, Pseudomonas spp. 18RE, Bacillus spp. 21RE, Rhodococcus spp. 24RE) demonstrated a pronounced capacity for surfactant biosynthesis. Key evidence was a significant decrease in the interfacial tension (IFT) of the culture fluid during its development on oil used as the sole carbon source. The values of the IFT in the medium with oil varied from 2.5 to 4.5 mN/m, which is significantly lower than the values in the medium with sucrose 3.5–13.5 mN/m, and indicates the high efficiency of the produced biosurfactants. The adaptability of microorganisms to reservoir conditions is important for application in real oil reservoirs. A study of their physiological characteristics revealed that the selected strains showed wide tolerance ranges: temperature (from 5°C to ≥ 50°C) and salinity (from 0 to 80–240 g NaCl/L). For example, Bacillus spp. 21RE grew at salinities up to 240 g/L, while Pseudomonas spp. 18RE and Citrobacter spp. 14RE exhibited thermotolerance. The obtained results demonstrate the high potential of the isolated strains for the development of innovative biotechnologies. Their ability to efficiently produce biosurfactants directly on the oil substrate and survive in extreme reservoir conditions (high salinity, wide temperature range) makes them promising agents for microbiologically enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). The use of these microorganisms and their metabolites will reduce the IFT at the oil-water interface, mobilize capillary-trapped oil, and increase the oil recovery factor, while simultaneously facilitating the bioremediation of contaminated sites.

Keywords

enhanced oil recoverybiological surfactantsmicrobiological methods of enhanced oil recoveryinterfacial tensionoil-contaminated soilsbioremediationhydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganismsBacillusPseudomonasRhodococcus.

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Article information

Published
21 November 2025
Issue date
21 November 2025
Issue
Vol. 25, No. 4 (2025)
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