Through carefully controlled conditions, the biocatalysts can be adapted to the exact characteristics of different forms of crude oil, whether from California, Mexico, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia or Canada. The patented process involves gradual adaptive changes in experimental conditions, rather than genetic manipulation of the original bacterial strains.
Once crude has been produced, the BNL process can also act as a desirable refinery pretreatment, removing much of the sulfur, nitrogen and metals. Besides enhancing the overall efficiency of the refining process, this action has a positive impact on factors that can contribute to global climate change. The process also naturally produces surfactants and oxygenates.
BioCat, whose mission is to provide technology-based services to the oil industry, has exclusively licensed all five of Brookhaven's patents and various patent applications relating to the process. BioCat was created through the Long Island Research Institute and DEC Consultants, and was incorporated in 1996. The Petroleum Industry Research Association has acted as a valuable consultant to the project.
The biochemical technology effort at Brookhaven has benefited from funding support provided largely by the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy, including its National Petroleum Technology Office in Oklahoma.
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Contact: Kara Villamil
karav@bnl.gov
516-344-5658
DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory
22-Apr-1999