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Appl Microbiol. 1972 Jun; 23(6): 1082–1089.
doi: 10.1128/am.23.6.1082-1089.1972
PMCID: PMC380511
PMID: 4557559

Microbial Utilization of Crude Oil

A. Jobson, F. D. Cook, and D. W. S. Westlake
Author information Copyright and License information PMC Disclaimer

Abstract

The utilization of two crude oil samples of different quality at 4 and 30 C has been studied by using pure and mixed bacterial cultures obtained by enrichment procedures. Growth, emulsification, and utilization occurred readily at both temperatures. The crude oil residue is increased in specific gravity and readily sediments out of solution. A comparison of the chemical analysis of the oils by liquid and gas-liquid chromatographic procedures before and after growth showed that the n-saturate fraction had been preferentially used. Some utilization of the aromatic fraction also occurred. Enrichments obtained with a high-quality crude oil were not as effective in utilizing a lower quality crude oil as sole carbon source as a population enriched on the low-quality crude oil.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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Articles from Applied Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
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