Simultaneous inhibition of sulfate-reducing bacteria, removal of H2S and production of rhamnolipid by recombinant Pseudomonas stutzeri Rhl: Applications for microbial enhanced oil recovery

•Rhl can simultaneously remove S2− and produce rhamnolipid in below 33.3mg/l S2−.•Rhl controlled the SRB numbers from 109cells/ml to 105cells/ml in serum bottles.•The production of H2S by SRB was delayed and decreased by strain Rhl.•Rhl produced rhamnolipid and removed S2− under simulated oil reservoir conditions.•The species and abundance of SRB were decreased after addition of strain Rhl. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are widely existed in oil production system, and its H2S product inhibits rhamnolipid producing bacteria. In-situ production of rhamnolipid is promising for microbial enhanced oil recovery. Inhibition of SRB, removal of H2S and production of rhamnolipid by recombinant Pseudomonas stutzeri Rhl were investigated. Strain Rhl can simultaneously remove S2− (>92%) and produce rhamnolipid (>136mg/l) under S2− stress below 33.3mg/l. Rhl reduced the SRB numbers from 109 to 105cells/ml, and the production of H2S was delayed and decreased to below 2mg/l. Rhl also produced rhamnolipid and removed S2− under laboratory simulated oil reservoir conditions. High-throughput sequencing data demonstrated that addition of strain Rhl significantly changed the original microbial communities of oilfield production water and decreased the species and abundance of SRB. Bioaugmentation of strain Rhl in oilfield is promising for simultaneous control of SRB, removal of S2− and enhance oil recovery.