Oilfield Carbonated Produced Water Recycling Coupled to Exopolysaccharide Transformation by Lelliottia amnigena

It was tested the production of a viscous exopolysaccharide (EPS) by Lelliottia amnigena using different concentrations (10, 15, 25, 50 and 100%) of produced water (PW) and Dialyzed PW (DPW) at 100% concentration, with a nutrient medium based on glycerin and sucrose as carbon sources in 44 h batches. There was an increase in EPS recovery when used PW up to a concentration of 25%. The viscosity of the EPS solutions was maintained with DPW and up to 15% of PW, such a condition resulted in 9.34 gL − 1 of EPS, representing an increase of 84.9% compared to the control (P < 0.0001). The PW 15% increased the viscosity per produced liter by 114.3% (P < 0.0001). Scanning electron microscopy and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis showed that EPS adsorbed mineral constituents of the substrate and its characterization by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was similar to an external control of a commercial EPS produced by an Enterobacter A47 strain. PW at 15% becomes an alternative to increase the EPS production process and can contribute to the mitigation of environmental damage through sustainable PW management in the oilfield chain. Graphical Abstract