Application of biosurfactant surfactin as a pH-switchable biodemulsifier for efficient oil recovery from waste crude oil

Efficient oil separation is the most desirable, but still challenging solution for the waste crude oil problem. This study developed biosurfactant surfactin as a novel pH-switchable biodemulsifier for efficient oil separation. As found, surfactin demulsification achieved a quite well oil separation ratio of over 95% on model emulsions after 20 min at 50 °C. The validity of this demulsification process should be mainly based on the readily lost...