Biosurfactants

Use of CO₂ as a carbon source for the production of biosurfactants.

Sponsor:
Petronas Petróleo Brasil Ltda (PPBL)

Period of execution:
2021- Current

Project presentation:
Among the atmospheric CO₂ sequestration strategies, biological sequestration relies on the activity of microorganisms that use this compound as a carbon source in their metabolism. This emerging technology is considered environmentally correct as it combines the removal of greenhouse gases with the generation of bioproducts, such as calcium carbonate, biodiesel and biosurfactants. Biosurfactants are produced by several microorganisms with the purpose of emulsifying oil and water in the environment, presenting low toxicity and high biodegradability. These characteristics allow wide use in commercial or industrial processes. Particularly for the oil industry, biosurfactants are used in Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR), which occurs after primary and secondary oil extraction. This technique targets the oil that remains trapped in the reservoir at the end of the operation, which represents 45 to 90% of the original oil (OOIP).
This project aims to produce biosurfactants from the use of CO₂ as a carbon source by microorganisms, selecting the most appropriate cultivation conditions and using genetic engineering as a possible tool for optimizing production.