Evaluation of paraffins biodegradation and biosurfactant production by Bacillus subtilis in the presence of crude oil

Abstract

Bacillus subtilis experiments for surface tension evaluation were accomplished with culture medium containing 0.4% nitrate ions and 4% glucose basic nutrient in the presence of crude oil. Surfactin production was observed by surface tension reduction of the culture broth. Surfactin was isolated from Bacillus subtilis fermented broth, by acid-precipitation followed by extraction with chloroform-methanol. Evaluation of the linear alkanes composition was performed by capillary gas chromatography. We observed a significant reduction of the surface tension of the fermented broth indicating that the biosurfactant production was not inhibited by the crude oil presence, and that the light paraffins might have been consumed.