Demulsification of oil-in-water emulsions by aerial spores of a Streptomyces sp.

Abstract

Of a number of actinomycetes isolated from Antarctica and coastal regions of Korea, one isolate, identified as a Streptomyces sp., demulsified an emulsion of kerosene/0.2% Triton X-100 (2:1, v/v) within 1 min. The aerial spores broke emulsions of low viscosity hydrocarbons such as kerosene and gasoline within 1 min, but after 3 min of contact they could demulsify less than 50% of emulsions of high viscosity hydrocarbons diluted with kerosene.