US3769164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microbial degradation of petroleum
Assignee: BIOTEKNIKA INTERNATIONAL
•
Filing: 1970-06-03
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1990-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A process for the microbial degradation of petroleum by treating the petroleum or oil with particular microorganisms which are capable of utilizing hydrocarbons as an energy and carbon source. The process is used, for example, to clean up oil spillage as it may occur on the open sea, inland fresh waters, beaches, rockbound shore lines, harbors, etc. and for cleaning closed containers, such as tanker bottoms or storage tanks containing heavy tar fractions, asphalts and heavy, viscous crude oil residues. The end result of the process is to restore oilpolluted marine, benthic and littoral environments to habitable, ecologically-clean environments. The microorganisms employed are edible and completely non-pathogenic to marine fauna and flora as well as to humans and animals.
Inventors
- 👤 E Azarowicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:18
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/68; C02F1/681; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/911; Y10S435/913; Y10S435/94; Y10S435/942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said microorganism is mixed with a cellulosic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said microorganism is mixed with a cellulosic material, a nitrogen source and a phosphorus source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said microorganism is added to the petroleum in an amount of at least about 2 pounds of wet packed cells per acre of petroleum surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said microorganism is added to the petroleum in an amount of about 1 to 5 percent bY weight of microorganism per volume of petroleum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 2, wherein said cellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of sawdust, pine bark, wood flour, cotton linters, cottonseed hulls, straw, bagasse, marsh hay and shredded paper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 3, wherein said nitrogen source is cottonseed protein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said microorganism is employed in a slurry form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said microorganism is employed in a pelletized form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process for the microbial degradation of polluting petroleum which comprises treating petroleum with at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of Aureobasidium pullulans ATCC 20249, Myrothecium verrucaria ATCC 20250, Cladosporium cladosporioides ATCC 20251, Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 20252, Aspergillus sp. ATCC 20253 and Rhodotorula sp. ATCC 20254 for a sufficient time until the treated petroleum has been substantially degraded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is mixed with a cellulosic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is mixed with a cellulosic material, a nitrogen source and a phosphorus source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is added to the petroleum in an amount of at least about 2 pounds of wet packed cells per acre of petroleum surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is added to the petroleum in an amount of about 1 to 5 percent by weight of microor-ganism per volume of petroleum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 11, wherein said cellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of sawdust, pine bark, wood flour, cotton linters, cottonseed hulls, straw, bagasse, marsh hay and shredded paper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 12, wherein said nitrogen source is cottonseed protein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is employed in a slurry form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is employed in a pelletized form.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is added to the petroleum at a temperature of approximately 2*C. to approximately 39* C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is Aureobasidium pullulans ATCC 20249.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is Myrothecium verrucaria ATCC 20250.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is Cladosporium cladosporioides ATCC 20251.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 20252.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is Aspergillus sp. ATCC 20253.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said microorganism is Rhodotorula sp. ATCC 20254.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3616204A
Cited
US3634227A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |