Oil Tank Cleaning/Pipeline Flow
Rhamnolipids are cost-effective biosurfactants that assist with oil tank cleaning by emulsifying residual hydrocarbons. A rhamnolipid cleaning solution can be formulated with starting concentrations as low as 0.01% (100 ppm) and applied using a high-pressure applicator or steam injection. In a field test our rhamnolipids cleaning solution reduced cleaning time by up to 66% compared with a standard cleaning solution. Over 90% of the petroleum can be recovered from the sludge generated during the cleaning process. The emulsifying qualities that make rhamnolipids an excellent tank cleaner also make them useful for improving pipeline flow.