A study on stability of biosurfactant Rhamnolipids NR22 for oil and gas approach

A Gram negative rod bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NR.22 (Ps.NR.22) has been cultured for biosurfactant Rhamno NR.22 production. This research focused on the application in oil and gas industry such as bioremediation and cleaning oil spill from crude oil shipping. The production of biosurfactant Rhamno NR.22 was observed by the 28% foaming formed in the cultured medium. It was characterized using FTIR analysis to observe the functional group and the component presence. O-H, C=C=O, C=C and CN bonds were observed from the analysis concluded that the biosurfactant Rhamno NR.22 were presences. However, another non-related bond was detected as the biosurfactant Rhamno NR.22 produced was semi pure. The stability of the biosurfactant Rhamno NR.22 were tested by oil displacement test and determination of emulsification index in distilled water and brine solution with different range parameter of pH and temperature at 5, 7, 9 and 37⁰C, 45⁰C, 60⁰C respectively. The results shows that pH 7 has the biggest displacement of oil with 9.6cm while the pH 5 recorded the lowest displacement of 7.5cm in distilled water