j - 1 which is a strain of cyanobacteria is used to form and excrete a material useful as an emulsifying agent for forming emulsions of hydrocarbons and oils in liquids such as water . method of separating and culturing the cyanobacteria under conditions necessary to achieve a maximum formation and excretion of the emulsifying agent into solution . method of purifying and separating excreted as well as intracellular material from cyanobacteria . method of removing stains with a material excreted by cyanobacteria , and particularly strain j - 1 . method of effecting the secondary recovery of petroleum through the use of a material excreted by cyanobacteria , and particularly strain j - 1 . extracellular polymeric material which is greater than 200 , 000 daltons in molecular weight , and contains sugar , fatty acid , and protein moieties , and amide , carboxylic and amino groups .