Vacuum Residue Bio-degradation Using a Bubble Column Fermentor

摘要

Vacuum residue obtained from Tehran oil refinery vacuum distillation tower and used in a bubble column fermentor as the sole source of carbon and energy in minimal salts medium and different aeralion applied. The best results for bacterial growth obtained at 0.08-0.3 v.v.m. Specific gravity of vacuum residue after biodegradation also decreased from 0.98 to 0.95. Decreasing specific gravity could be an indication for bio-lightening. Gas holdup was in the range of 0.007 to 0.062 and was well fitted with Hugmark correlation.