abstract
- Produced water (PW) and crude glycerin (CG) are compounds overproduced by the oil and biodiesel industry and significant scientific efforts are being applied for properly recycling them. The aim of this research is to combine such industrial byproducts for sustaining the production of xanthan by Xanthomonas campestris. Xanthan yields and viscosity on distinct PW ratios (0, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100) and on 100% dialyzed PW (DPW) in shaker batch testing identified DPW treatment as the best approach for further bioreactor experiments. Such experiments showed a xanthan yield of 17.3 g/L within 54 h and a viscosity of 512 mPa s. Physical-chemical characterization (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy) showed similarities between the produced gum and the experimental control. This research shows a clear alternative for upcycling high salinity PW and CG for the generation of a valued bioproduct for the oil industry.
- The authors acknowledge the support by ANP - Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis, related to the grant from R&D investment rule, and the financed support by Petrogal Brasil S.A. (34/2017). The authors also would like to thank the Multi-User Electronic Microscopy Laboratory of the Physics Institute of the Federal University of Bahia for carrying out the SEM and EDS analyzes.