Biosurfactant-driven desorption and remediation of heavy oil contaminated soils underpinned by molecular simulations and microbial dynamics

RSC Advances 2026 Open access

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Authors: Qi Xiu, Honglin He, Zhenghui Liu, Xuan Ou, Yifei Meng, Kangbo Zhao, Qian Yang, Xu Zhang, Yahan Hou, Shun Yao, Peike Gao, Wenjie Xia
DOI: 10.1039/d5ra09479h
Cited by: 2
References: 52

Abstract

-montmorillonite and 96.04% from field-contaminated soil. 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing revealed an increased abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria within the soil microbial community, highlighting a synergistic effect between biosurfactant-induced desorption and biodegradation. These findings underscore the critical roles of mineralogical properties, oil fraction characteristics, and biosurfactant selection in soil washing treatment. This work presents a viable and eco-friendly strategy for remediating crude oil-contaminated soils, with important implications for optimizing large-scale environmental restoration efforts.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants Groundwater flow and contamination studies Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques

Publication details

Journal / source
RSC Advances
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Volume
16
Issue
18
Pages
16316–16328
Publication date
1 January 2026
Language
EN