Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (production)

Andre Sirvins

Bernard Tramier

Jacques Tellier

Jean-Claude Gautier

Michel Guillerme

Jaime Gratacos

There is described a process for the culture of microorganisms in a medium comprising a hydrophobic material containing microorganisms by the use of nutrient substances in aqueous solution micro-emulsified in a liquid immiscible with water. As the source of nitrogen, compounds soluble in water are used, such as urea or ammonium nitrate, sulphate or phosphate, and, as the source of phosphorus, compounds soluble in water are used. The medium should also contain a directly-assimilable source of carbon. Application of this process to the culture of microorganisms, allowing operations to be carried out which comprise the degrading of hydrocarbons covering an area of water or ground; an application of particular interest for operations for combatting oil pollution of the sea by biological degradation.

Process of culturing microorganisms using a microemulsion

Purification of the effluents from mineral oil drillings, carried out on land, for permitting the discharge of the residual waters into the natural surroundings. First, microorganisms are cultivated on a volume of the effluent, in order to make them capable of digesting the impurities of the effluent. The culture, thus obtained, is then developed in the mass of the effluent to be treated until the BOD is reduced to the required limit. This treatment is preferably followed by a flocculation with chemical agents in the known manner. This anti-pollution treatment permits the regulations in force to be applied in all locations where the drillings are undertaken, whatever may be the auxiliary fluids used in the drilling operation.

Growing community of inventors

Pau, France

Andre Sirvins