US3878045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the production of heteropolysaccharide by fermentation of methanol
Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-12
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-06-12
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an improved process for the preparation of a new heteropolysaccharide by a fermentation process comprising culturing a heteropolysaccharide-producing strain of a microorganism of the genus Methylomonas on an aqueous culture medium containing methanol as the sole source of assimilable carbon. The concentration of the product polysaccharide in the fermentation broth is increased, the fermentation time is shortened, and the properties of the polysaccharide are improved by the controlled addition of methanol to the fermentation process near the end of the logarithmic phase of growth of the bacteria.
Inventors
- 👤 Alex L Tannahill
- 👤 Robert K Finn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:32
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/32; C12P; C12P19/00; C12P19/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
IN A METHOD OF PRODUCING A HETEROPOLYSACCHARIDE BY A FERMENTATION PROCESS OF CULTURING A MICRO-ORGANISM OF METHYLOMONAS MUCOSA NRRL B5696 ON A CULTURE MEDIUM CONTAINING METHANOL AS THE SOLE SOURCE OF ASSIMILABLE CARBON, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES INITIATING FERMENTATION ON SAID CULTURE MEDIUM WITH A METHANOL CONTENT OF BETWEEN ABOUT 0.5 AND 5% BY VOLUME, CONDUCTING SAID FERMENTATION UNTIL THE OPTICAL DENSITY OF THE FERMENTATION BROTH REACHES A VALUE OF AT ELAST 1.0 AND ADDING AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF METHANOL WITHIN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 1 TO 4% BY VOLUME.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
IN A METHOD OF PRODUCING A HETEROPOLYSACCHARIDE BY A FERMENTATION PROCESS OF CULTURING A MICRO-ORGANISM OF METHYLOMONAS MUCOSA NRRL B5696 ON A CULTURE MEDIUM CONTAINING METHANOL AS THE SOLE SOURCE OF ASSIMILABLE CARBON, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES INITIATING FERMENTATION ON SAID CULTURE MEDIUM WITH A METHANOL CONTENT OF BETWEEN ABOUT 0.5 AND 5% BY VOLUME, CONDUCTING SAID FERMENTATION UNTIL THE OPTICAL DENSITY OF THE FERMENTATION BROTH REACHES A VALUE OF AT ELAST 1.0 AND ADDING AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF METHANOL WITHIN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 1 TO 4% BY VOLUME.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as defined by claim 1, wherein the initial methanol concentration and the subsequent addition of methanol are each in an amount of about 1.5% by volume.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as defined by claim 1, wherein the subsequent addition of methanol is undertaken while the optical density of the fermentation broth is within the range of about 1.0 to 5.0.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined by claim 1, wherein the culture medium is maintained at a pH between about 6.0 and 7.8 and at a temperature between about 25* and 35* C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as defined by claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises incorporating in the culture medium an inorganic salt of iron so as to provide an iron ion content between 1 and 10 parts per million.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined by claim 5, wherein the inorganic salt is ferrous sulfate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as defined by claim 5, wherein the inorganic salt is ferrous ammonium sulfate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined by claim 5, wherein the improvement further comprises incorporating in the culture medium a chelating agent for said iron ion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined by claim 8, wherein the chelating agent is citric acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined by claim 8, wherein the chelating agent is 2,3 dihydroxy benzoic acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined by claim 8, wherein the chelating agent is kojic acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as defined by claim 8, wherein the chelating agent is (ethylene dinitrilo) tetraacetic acid (EDTA).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3663370A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |