Biosurfactants and Glauconite Sorbent for Protection and Bioremediation of Oil-Contaminated Soils

The bioremediation and restoration of soils damaged by military operations constitute a critically important and complex challenge. It has been shown that the bacterial strain Pseudomonas sp. PS-17 is capable of growing on media containing various hydrophobic carbon sources (diesel fuel, gasoline, crude oil, hexadecane, sunflower oil, kerosene, and liquid paraffin) while synthesizing rhamnolipid biosurfactants. The resulting rhamnolipids exhibit no phytotoxic effects on the growth of the test plant at concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.05 g/L. Emulsions of rhamnolipids with liquid paraffin, kerosene and hexadecane, formed within a pH range of 6–11, remain stable for three months. The efficacy of oil sorption by glauconite was confirmed through luminescent-petrographic analyses. An application of biosurfactants enhanced the glauconite sorption properties. This modification also improved the barrier’s protective function by localizing spilled petroleum products at the surface. It prevented the further penetration of water-soluble oil fractions into the soil and groundwater.