The pilot study for waste oil removal from oilfields by Acinetobacter johnsonii using a specialized batch bioreactor

The batch bioreactor with a maximum capacity of 0.28 m3 was designed and manufactured according to oilfield conditions Acinetobacter johnsonii ioslated from waste oil in an aerobic environment was employed to cleanse waste oil and wash-down water using the bioreactor in a pilot scale. The aerating process was optimized from 2 to 4 m3/h corresponding to the different cell growth phases, ensuring sufficient dissolved oxygen and avoiding cell damage from the shearing forces due to strong aeration. The bio-treatment of waste oil underwent two stages:one was the wettability reversal of inorganic admixtures from oil phase into waster phase through enlarged wetting angles, and the other was the bio-flocculation in waster phase by intermediate metabolites excreted by cells. Finally, inorganic admixtures were effectively removed from waste oil and wash-down water at the optimal conditions, with the content less than 0.5% in oil phase and turbidity and sulfide less than 100 NTU and 1 mg/L in the water phase, respectively. Such bio-treatment made the oil-water interface clear against oil and water emulsification and in favor of smooth reclamations for waste oil and wash-down water.