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Biosurfactants as Multifunctional Remediation Agents of Environmental Pollutants Generated by the Petroleum Industry

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  • Alexandre Augusto P. Selva Filho

    (Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Universidade Federal Rural Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
    Instituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, Brazil
    Escola UNICAP Icam Tech, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil)

  • Attilio Converti

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Chimica e Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Genova (UNIGE), Via Opera Pia, n. 15, 16145 Genova, Italy)

  • Rita de Cássia F. Soares da Silva

    (Instituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, Brazil)

  • Leonie A. Sarubbo

    (Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Universidade Federal Rural Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
    Instituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, Brazil
    Escola UNICAP Icam Tech, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil)

Abstract

Fuel and oil spills during the exploration, refining, and distribution of oil and petrochemicals are primarily responsible for the accumulation of organic pollutants in the environment. The reduction in contamination caused by hydrocarbons, heavy metals, oily effluents, and particulate matter generated by industrial activities and the efficient recovery of oil at great depths in an environmentally friendly way pose a challenge, as recovery and cleaning processes require the direct application of surface-active agents, detergents, degreasers, or solvents, often generating other environmental problems due to the toxicity and accumulation of these substances. Thus, the application of natural surface-active agents is an attractive solution. Due to their amphipathic structures, microbial surfactants solubilize oil through the formation of small aggregates (micelles) that disperse in water, with numerous applications in the petroleum industry. Biosurfactants have proven their usefulness in solubilizing oil trapped in rock, which is a prerequisite for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Biosurfactants are also important biotechnological agents in anti-corrosion processes, preventing incrustations and the formation of biofilms on metallic surfaces, and are used in formulations of emulsifiers/demulsifiers, facilitate the transport of heavy oil through pipelines, and have other innovative applications in the oil industry. The use of natural surfactants can reduce the generation of pollutants from the use of synthetic detergents or chemical solvents without sacrificing economic gains for the oil industry. Therefore, investments in biotechnological processes are essential. It is predicted that, in the not-too-distant future, natural surfactants will become viable from an economic standpoint and dominate the world market. The application of biosurfactants in these settings would lead to industrial growth and environmental sustainability. The main goal of this paper is to provide an overview of diverse applications of biosurfactants on environmental remediation, petroleum biotechnology, and the oil industry through a scientific literature review.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandre Augusto P. Selva Filho & Attilio Converti & Rita de Cássia F. Soares da Silva & Leonie A. Sarubbo, 2023. "Biosurfactants as Multifunctional Remediation Agents of Environmental Pollutants Generated by the Petroleum Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-26, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:3:p:1209-:d:1043965
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Charles Bronzo B. Farias & Rita de Cássia F. Soares da Silva & Fabíola Carolina G. Almeida & Attilio Converti & Valdemir A. dos Santos & Leonie A. Sarubbo, 2022. "Physicochemical Upgrading of a Biodetergent for Application in the Industrial Energy Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Xiaoyu Qi & Xiaoming Xu & Chuanqing Zhong & Tianyi Jiang & Wei Wei & Xin Song, 2018. "Removal of Cadmium and Lead from Contaminated Soils Using Sophorolipids from Fermentation Culture of Starmerella bombicola CGMCC 1576 Fermentation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, October.
    3. Israel Gonçalves Sales da Silva & Fabíola Carolina Gomes de Almeida & Nathália Maria Padilha da Rocha e Silva & Alessandro Alberto Casazza & Attilio Converti & Leonie Asfora Sarubbo, 2020. "Soil Bioremediation: Overview of Technologies and Trends," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-25, September.
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