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Biodegradation of asphalt by Garciaella petrolearia TERIG02 for viscosity reduction of heavy oil

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Abstract

Petroleum hydrocarbon is an important energy resource, but it is difficult to exploit due to the presence of dominated heavy constituents such as asphaltenes. In this study, viscosity reduction of Jodhpur heavy oil (2,637 cP at 50°C) has been carried out by the biodegradation of asphalt using a bacterial strain TERIG02. TERIG02 was isolated from sea buried oil pipeline known as Mumbai Uran trunk line (MUT) located on western coast of India and identified as Garciaella petrolearia by 16S rRNA full gene sequencing. TERIG02 showed 42% viscosity reduction when asphalt along with molasses was used as a sole carbon source compared to only asphalt (37%). The viscosity reduction by asphaltene degradation has been structurally characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). This strain also shows an additional preference to degrade toxic asphalt and aromatics compounds first unlike the other known strains. All these characteristics makes TERIG02 a potential candidate for enhanced oil recovery and a solution to degrading toxic aromatic compounds.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the provision of the necessary facilities by the Dr. R. K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI. Oil India Limited and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, India was provided financial support for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TERI, Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India

    Meeta Lavania, Simrita Cheema, Priyangshu Manab Sarma, Ajoy Kumar Mandal & Banwari Lal

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  1. Meeta Lavania
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  2. Simrita Cheema
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  3. Priyangshu Manab Sarma
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  4. Ajoy Kumar Mandal
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  5. Banwari Lal
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Correspondence to Banwari Lal.

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Lavania, M., Cheema, S., Sarma, P.M. et al. Biodegradation of asphalt by Garciaella petrolearia TERIG02 for viscosity reduction of heavy oil. Biodegradation 23, 15–24 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-011-9482-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-011-9482-0

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