Structural and mechanical characterization of biofilm-associated bacterial polymer in the emulsification of petroleum hydrocarbon.

The marine bacterium Pseudomonas furukawaii PPS-19 isolated from the oil-polluted site of Paradip port, Odisha, India, was found to form a strong biofilm in 2% (v/v) crude oil. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) revealed biofilm components along with multi-layered dense biofilm of rod-shaped cells with 64.7 µm thickness. Scanning electron micrographs showed similar biofilm architecture covered with a gluey matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the presence of 2% (v/v) crude oil. The architecture of purified EPS was also studied through FESEM that exposed its porous and three-dimensional flakes-like structure. The structural characterization by FTIR revealed that EPS was composed of primary alkane, amines, halide, hydroxyl groups, uronic acid, and saccharides. The XRD profile exhibited an amorphous phase of the EPS with a crystallinity index of 0.336. The EPS showed three-step thermal decomposition and thermal stability up to 600 °C, as confirmed by TGA and DSC thermogram. EPS produced by marine bacterium P. furukawaii PPS-19 could act as bioemulsifier and showed the highest emulsifying activity of 66.23% on petrol. The emulsifying ability of the EPS was superior to the commercial polymer xanthan. The emulsion also showed high stability with time and temperature exposure. The marine bacterium P. furukawaii PPS-19 and the EPS complex showed 89.52% degradation of crude oil within 5 days. These properties demonstrated the potential of biofilm-forming marine bacterium as bioemulsifier for its application in the bioremediation of oil-polluted sites. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02795-8. © King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2021.