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Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
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Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
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Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
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Published on: October 31, 2019

Microbial processes in oil fields: culprits, problems, and opportunities.

Noha Youssef1, Mostafa S Elshahed, Michael J McInerney

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074, USA.

Advances in Applied Microbiology
|February 11, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Microbial communities in oil reservoirs play a crucial role in oil recovery. Understanding and manipulating these microbes can prevent issues like souring and enhance oil production through various biotechnological applications.

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Published on: October 2, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Petroleum Microbiology
  • Reservoir Engineering
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • The microbial communities within oil reservoirs are not fully understood, impacting our ability to manage detrimental effects like souring and plugging.
  • Knowledge of reservoir microbiology offers significant potential for enhancing oil productivity and recovery efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of oil reservoir microbial communities.
  • To highlight the beneficial applications of microbial processes in enhancing oil recovery.
  • To identify areas requiring further research for wider acceptance of microbial oil recovery technologies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on reservoir microbiology and microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR).
  • Analysis of documented microbial strategies for controlling hydrogen sulfide production and stimulating hydrocarbon metabolism.
  • Evaluation of microbial techniques for increasing oil recovery in various geological formations.

Main Results:

  • Nitrate/nitrite addition effectively controls hydrogen sulfide production.
  • Oxygen injection enhances hydrocarbon metabolism and oil mobilization.
  • Fermentative bacteria and carbohydrate injection generate acids and gases, improving oil recovery, especially in carbonate formations.
  • Nutrient injection boosts microbial growth in high permeability zones, improving sweep efficiency and oil recovery.
  • Biosurfactants reduce oil-water interfacial tension, with potential for in situ production.
  • Microbial paraffin control technologies extend the life of marginal oil fields.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial processes offer viable strategies for both mitigating reservoir problems and enhancing oil recovery.
  • Further quantitative assessments are necessary to establish the economic viability and widespread applicability of microbial oil recovery techniques.