Emulsification using environmental compatible emulsifiers and de-emulsification using DC field and immobilized Nocardia amarae

As environmental compatible emulsifiers, various polysaccharides were investigated and de-emulsification methods were studied using filtration, direct current (D.C.) field, and also Nocardia amarae. 0.01% (v/v) of alginic acid, arabic gum, chitosan, and curdlan showed more than about 2 h of emulsion stability in the half-life of emulsion layer by a homogenizer and showed about twice synergic effects with other polysaccharides in emulsification activity at the ratio of 9:1 (v/v). De-emulsification by 110V D.C. field took about 1 h for the separation of oils from 1 l of oil-in-water emulsion in case of 0.01% arabic gum. Oil-water separator was designed using non-woven fabrics in filtration system and Nocardia amarae grown in n-hexadecane or kerosene was immobilized in the non-woven fabrics.