Upgrading of Heavy Crude Oil Using Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant Produced from Pseudomonas Aeroginosa ATCC28793

Using of Biosurfactants instead of chemical surfactants in oil industry is important in terms of environmental impact. Rhamnolipids is one of the effective Biosurfactants for reducing the viscosity of heavy crude oil and consequently for increasing the API gravity of heavy oil. In this research, Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant was produced from Pseudomonas aeroginosa ATCC28793 and was characterized using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and FTIR spectroscopy. The obtained results from production of water in oil(W/O) emulsions showed that initial viscosity and API gravity of the heavy oil reached from 2360 mPa.s and 18 to 930 mPa.s and 28, respectively. In addition, emulsification index (E24) was found to be %98 in the Rhamnolipid concentration of %8 w/v. During the experiment, it was observed that the emulsions were stable in the pH range of 8 to 14, temperature from 30 to 90˚C and for salinity up to %8 w/v of NaCl solution. The average diameter of W/O droplets which was evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed that the average water droplets were in the range of 50-70 µm. The obtained results from the present research reveal that the produced Rhamnolipid has significant ability for reduction of viscosity and increase in the API gravity of heavy oil; therefore, it can be suitable alternative method instead of synthetic and chemical surfactants in petroleum and oil industry and environmental applications.