During biodiesel storage, chemical reactions may occur, producing sludges. The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical and microbial composition of the sludge found in a biodiesel storage tank. The material was collected in a biodiesel production plant. The sludge chemical characterization was performed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), gas chromatography (GC), and the microbial investigation used culture-dependent techniques. The deteriogenic potential of the native microbial community was evaluated using the sludge as a microbial inoculum in a 60 day experiment. The microbial growth, biodiesel degradation, pH alterations, and the detection of esters in the aqueous phase were evaluated. The chemical analysis indicated the sludge composition as fatty acids esters and metallic ions; sterols glycosides were not detected. Seven bacteria and five fungi species were obtained from the sludge. The microbial growth analysis indicated that the native community does not have high biodiesel deteriogenic capacity.

Abstract Accidents caused by leaks and/or spills on soils need to be addressed. Natural attenuation, biostimulation and bioaugmentation can be useful bioremediation strategies for decontamination processes in soils of diesel/biodiesel mixtures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degradation rate of the different fuels (B0, B20 and B100) in an ultisol under natural attenuation and biostimulation/bioaugmentation during 60 days of incubation in a controlled microcosm simulating a surface spill over soil. The degradation of different diesel/biodiesel mixtures was monitored for up to 60 days by dehydrogenase activity, respirometry by CO2 release, the most probable number of heterotrophic and degrading microorganism and gas chromatography. The bacterial inoculum employed for biostimulation/bioaugmentation strategy consisted of Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The two bioremediation strategies have showed great degradation rates. The natural attenuation was effective for B0 and B20 treatments. The addition of the bacterial consortium and macronutrients contributed to the increased degradation of pure biodiesel in relation to natural attenuation, with higher rates for CO2 release, enzymatic and degrading activity. It is suggested that the bacterial consortium has proven effective for presenting significant values for such parameters until the end of the 60-day incubation period.

This study aimed to evaluate the environmental conditions for enzyme activity of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C1,2O) and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C2,3O) produced by Gordonia polyisoprenivorans in cell-free and immobilized extracts. The optimum conditions of pH, temperature, time course and effect of ions for enzyme activity were determined. Peak activity of C1,2O occurred at pH 8.0. The isolate exhibited the highest activity of C2,3O at pH 7.0 and 8.0 for the cell-free extract and immobilized extract, respectively. This isolate exhibited important characteristics such as broad range of pH, temperature and time course for enzyme activity.

Neste trabalho é apresentado um estudo a respeito da análise da estrutura de substâncias redutoras de tensão superficial produzidas por Pseudomonas citronellolis 222A estimulado pela presença de ferro. Esta bactéria foi isolada de um solo que há 17 anos vem sendo utilizado para o tratamento de borra oleosa proveniente da indústria petroquímica e de refinaria de petróleo. O espectro de massa difere do espectro de P. aeruginosa, indicando que as substâncias redutoras de tensão superficial produzidas por P. citronellolis podem ser um novo tipo de biosurfactante.

In this work we investigated the structure of the iron-stimulated surface tension reducing substances produced by P. citronellolis 222A isolated from a 17-years old landfarming used for sludge treatment in petrochemical industries and oil refinery. Its mass spectrum differs from P. aeruginosa spectrum, indicating that the surface tension reducing substances produced by P. citronellolis can be a new kind of biosurfactant.

O problema microbiano maior na indústria de refino de petróleo é a contaminação de produtos armazenados, que pode levar à perda da qualidade, à formação de borra e à deterioração de tubulações e tanques de estocagem, na refinaria e no usuário. São abordadas, neste artigo, três classes de combustível, gasolina, querosene de aviação e óleo diesel, correspondente à ordem crescente de peso no fracionamento de petróleo. O óleo diesel apresenta os problemas microbiológicos mais sérios. São relatados os diversos microrganismos isolados de sistemas de combustíveis hidrocarbonados. São apresentadas as condições necessárias para crescimento microbiano e os métodos utilizados para o monitoramento e controle desse crescimento. Os efeitos de diversos aditivos, inclusive biocidas, são discutidos

The major microbial problem in the petroleum refining industry is contamination of stored products, which can lead to loss of product quality, formation of sludge and deterioration of pipework and storage tanks, both in the refinery and at the end-user. Three major classes of fuel are discussed in this article - gasoline, aviation kerosene and diesel, corresponding to increasingly heavy petroleum fractions. The fuel that presents the most serious microbiological problems is diesel. The many microorganisms that have been isolated from hydrocarbon fuel systems are listed. The conditions required for microbial growth and the methods used to monitor and to control this activity are discussed. The effects of various fuel additives, including biocides, are considered.