Isolation, identification and characterization of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BZ-6, a bacterial isolate for enhancing oil recovery from oily sludge

Over 100 biosurfactant-producing microorganisms were isolated from oily sludge and petroleum-contaminated soil from Shengli oil field in north China. Sixteen of the bacterial isolates produced biosurfactants and reduced the surface tension of the growth medium from 71 to <30 mN m−1 after 72 h of growth. These bacteria were used to treat oily sludge and the recovery efficiencies of oil from oily sludge were determined. The oil recovery efficiencies of different isolates ranged from 39% to 88%. Bacterial isolate BZ-6 was found to be the most efficient strain and the three phases (oil, water and sediment) were separated automatically after the sludge was treated with the culture medium of BZ-6. Based on morphological, physiological characteristics and molecular identification, isolate BZ-6 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The biosurfactant produced by isolate BZ-6 was purified and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. There were four ion peaks representing four different fengycin A homologues.

► Over one hundred biosurfactant-producing microorganisms were isolated.
► Bacterial isolate BZ-6 was found to be the most efficient strain.
► Oil, water and sediment 3 phases separated after the sludge treated by BZ-6.
► BZ-6 was identified as B. amyloliquefaciens.
► The biosurfactant produced by BZ-6 includes four fengycin A homologues.