Interaction between Thermophilic Microorganisms and Crude Oils: Recent Developments.

摘要

A considerable research effort in the area of microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) has shown that it is promising, and that a recovery biotechnology may be developed. Successful biochemical processes would have to be cost effective and have certain properties, such as being able to produce emulsifying agents and acidify the media. Further, the microbes producing these conditions should also be tolerant of high salt concentrations and be capable of metabolizing high molecular weight compounds. Since oil reservoirs are also subject to temperature and pressure variations, successful microbial strains should also be able to adapt to such environments. Thermophilic microorganisms, which usually live in harsh environments, appear to be good candidates for MEOR. Continuing work in this laboratory dealing with the chemistry and biochemistry of microorganisms living under extreme conditions has been expanded to a systematic study of the interaction of thermophilic microorganisms with crude oils and oil derivatives. Some recent results of these studies are presented. 15 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.