Results: Bioemulsifier production by a Paenibacillus sp. strain isolated from crude oil was studied. The bioemulsifier
was produced using sucrose with and without adding hydrocarbons (paraffin or crude oil) under aerobic and
anaerobic conditions at 40°C. It formed stable emulsions with several hydrocarbons and its emulsifying ability was
not affected by exposure to high salinities (up to 300 g/l), high temperatures (100°C-121°C) or a wide range of pH
values (2–13). In addition, it presented low toxicity and high biodegradability when compared with chemical
surfactants. A preliminary chemical characterization by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton and
carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR and 13C CP-MAS NMR) and size exclusion chromatography indicated
that the bioemulsifier is a low molecular weight oligosaccharide-lipid complex