Laboratory Study of the Effect of Ionic liquids on the Growth Rate of Microorganisms Applicable in the MEOR and Bioremediation Processes

For the first time in this study, the effect of ionic liquids in different concentrations and properties on the growth and performance of microorganisms capable to be used for MEOR, biodegradation and bioremediation purposes has been investigated. In this regard, two ionic liquids with different characteristics and chain lengths, namely; 1-octadecyl-3-methylimidozalium chloride and 2-decyl-3-methylimidozalium chloride were synthesized in the laboratory and their effects were investigated in different concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 ppm) on 5 different bacterial species (including Enterobacter and Bacillus families), isolated from oil or oil-contaminated soil. The results show an optimum amount of concentration on the top -down curve of the growth and performance of microorganisms in most cases. The maximum the growth rate was obtained for the most species, ranges between 10 and 25PPM and the antibacterial concentration of studied ionic liquids for all species was achieved in 50 ppm. Also, in most cases, 1-octadecyl-3-methylimidozalium chloride was shown to have a greater effect on the growth and yield of all microorganisms.