Rapid degradation of halogenated hydrocarbons by methanotrophic bacteria
US5196339A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1991 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W10/10
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method is disclosed for degradation of a halogenated hydrocarbon compound such as trichloroethylene (TCE) which utilizes a soluble methane monooxygenase or a bacterium comprising the monooxygenase. Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b is a soluble methane monooxygenase-producing bacterium which when cultivated by continuous culturing comprising exposing the bacterium to a continuous-flow gas mixture of air and methane in a ratio of about 25:1-1:20, respectively. Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b is capable of degrading TCE at rates from about 500-10,000 micromoles per hour per gram cells. The present method is useful to degrade halogenated hydrocarbon compounds such as TCE at initial concentrations up to 10,000 micromoles/l.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.