Abstract

Light Cycle Oil (LCO) is a by-product of Fluidized Catalytic Fractionation (FCC) considered a poor-quality diesel due to its high content of sulfur (3 % by weight) and aromatic compounds (50-80 % by weight) which has been enhanced by i) aromatic saturation (ASAT), ii) mild hydrocracking, and iii) aromatic saturation followed by selective ring opening (SRO) of naphthenic structures. On the other hand, it have been reported that different bacterial genera degrade aromatic compounds in a simple and economical way. Consequently, in this work, the ability of bacterial isolates to degrade naphthalene and other aromatic compounds present in an LCO from the Puerto La Cruz refinery (Anzoátegui State-Venezuela) was evaluated. Using UV-Visible spectroscopy, a decrease in naphthalene present in the LCO was observed from 24 to 44 % approximately and by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, a decrease in aromatic compounds from 27 to 45 %. The results suggest that the bacterial isolates evaluated are capable of using the aromatic compounds present in the LCO as a source of carbon and energy, leaving their consequent effect on the quality of the LCO obtained to be evaluated.

Abstract

Geothermal energy is presented through different sources and has various uses, such as hot springs, which can be classified based on geological origin (magmatic and telluric), temperature and composition depending of the dissolution of different minerals, coming from the soil and rocks from which they emerge. The natural waters, with known and proven therapeutic properties, are called mineral-medicinal sources. Its therapeutic activity varies according to the ions present in solution, this can be used in numerous pathologies and conditions But geothermal energy is not only limited to this use, it can be used as a heating source at domestic and industrial level. On the other hand, among the great applications of this type of energy is the generation of electricity. Keywords: thermal waters; geothermal energy; mineral-medicinal sources.