Process of microbial extraction of hydrocarbons from oil sands
OwnerHoward E. Worne, Irving Rabinovitchinventors
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Abstract
A process is described for the separation of hydrocarbon residues from oil and tar sands by microbiological activity. Hydrocarbon residues are released from the sands by contacting with a suspension of oxidase-synthesizing, hydrocarbon-metabolizing microorganisms.
Claims16
A process for the separation of hydrocarbon residues from oil and tar sands which comprises contacting the sands under aerobic conditions with an aqueous medium containing hydrocarbon-metabolizing microorganisms capable of producing oxidase enzymes or oxygenase enzymes or both, in the presence of an added surfactant in an amount sufficient to provide surface tension of at most about 40 dynes/cm and in the presence of oxygen in an amount sufficient to ensure activity of said enzymes, whereby hydrocarbon residues are released from the sands.
A process for the extraction of hydrocarbon residues from oil and tar sands which comprises:
- culturing hydrocarbon-metabolizing microorganisms capable of producing oxidase enzymes or oxygenase enzymes or both, in an aqueous medium,
- contacting oil or tar sands with the microorganism-containing medium in the presence of an added surfactant in an amount sufficient to provide a surface tension of at most about 40 dynes/cm, agitating the mixture of sands and microorganism-containing medium under aerobic conditions to provide oxygen in an amount sufficient to ensure activity of said enzymes, whereby the hydrocarbon residues are released from the sands,
- and recovering the hydrocarbon residues.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.