Effect of Microbial Lipase Enzymes on Wettability, Interfacial Tension and Adhesion of Crude oil/brine/solid Interactions

摘要

LPE1 and LPE2 are lipase enzymes produced from crude oil contaminated soil isolates Verticillium sp. and Penicillum sp. respectively. The enzymes were produced in broth medium using standard microbiological technique. The influence of the produced enzymes on wettability, interfacial tension and adhesion behavior of crude oil/brine/solid system were investigated. These properties were evaluated using standard methods. The experimental result reveal that the produced lipases changed the wettability nature of oil/brine/solid system to a water wet by the contact angle measurement. The microbial lipases also changed the adhesion behavior of the oil on glass slide from adhesive behavior to nonadhesion. In the case of interfacial tension, no significant change was observed when the lipase enzymes were introduced into the system. These findings suggest the possible application of the microbial lipases for enhanced oil recovery.