Dispersion of Weathered Biodiesel, Diesel, and Light Crude Oil in the Presence of Sophorolipid Biosurfactant in Seawater
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 5
Abstract
Sophorolipid biosurfactants have shown promise in remediation of oil-contaminated environments. This study investigated the potential application of sophorolipid biosurfactants for enhanced dispersion of weathered biodiesel, diesel, and light crude oil–contaminated water under salinities (0, 10, 20, and 30 ppt), temperatures (8, 22, and 35°C), and pH (6–8) using bench-scale experiments. Solutions of oil-artificial seawater-sophorolipid were prepared, shaken, solvent extracted, and analyzed. Sophorolipid biosurfactants reduced the surface tension of seawater (30 ppt) to with a critical micelle concentration of . Results of dispersion experiments showed that oil dispersion significantly increased as the sophorolipid concentrations increased so that the biodiesel, diesel, and light crude oil dispersion in seawater was enhanced 27, 16, and 12%, respectively, by of sophorolipid. Salinity, mixing, and temperature influenced the oil dispersion, but pH had the least effect on the oil dispersion. Oil dispersion was because of the decreases in the surface and interfacial tensions and encapsulation of oil droplets in micelles. This study suggests that sophorolipid has the properties to enhance oil dispersion in seawater under the examined laboratory conditions.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Concordia University.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 5 • May 2018
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©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 10, 2016
Accepted: Nov 3, 2017
Published online: Mar 9, 2018
Published in print: May 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Aug 9, 2018
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