US3898959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the growth of hydrocarbon-consuming microorganisms
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
•
Filing: 1973-01-15
•
Granted: 1975-08-12
•
Expires: 1993-01-15
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses a process for the growth of an aerobic hydrocarbon-consuming microorganism. In the process there is maintained in a fermentation vessel for a predetermined residence time a liquid fermentation broth containing a culture of the microorganism to be grown and, for the growth of the microorganism, a hydrocarbon as a source of carbon, mineral nutrients, and water. Air is injected into the fermentation broth. During the residence time, the fermentation broth is circulated through a bed of charcoal at a rate such that the entire amount of the fermentation broth passes through the bed at least once during the residence time. In a specific embodiment, the air is injected at a rate of 1 to 50 volumes per volume of the fermentation broth per minute, at a dilution ratio of 1.2 to 5, and at a superficial velocity of 200 to 500 meters per hour. The injection of the air provides oxygen for the growth of the microorganism and provides a means for maintaining the fermentation broth at a temperature conducive to the growth of the microorganism.
Inventors
- 👤 Nai Yuen Chen
- 👤 Sundaresa Srinivasan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:05
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/26; C12N1/28; C12N1/38; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/911; Y10S435/921; Y10S435/923; Y10S435/938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A PROCESS FOR THE GROWTH OF AN AEROBIC, HYDROCARBON-CONSUMING MICROORGANISM COMPRISING: A. MAINTAINING IN A FERMENTATION VESSEL FOR A PREDETERMINED RESIDENCE TIME A LIQUID FERMENTATION BROTH CONTAINING A CULTURE OF SAID HYDROCARBON-CONSUMING MCROORGANISM AND, FOR THE GROWTH OF SAID HYDROCARBON-CONSUMING MICROORGANISM, A HYDROCARBON AS A SOURCE OF CARBON, MINERAL NUTRIENTS, AND WATER, B. INJECTING AIR INTO SAID FERMENTATION BROTH AT A RATE OF 1 TO 5S VOLUMES PER VOLUME OF SAID FERMENTATION BROTH PER MINUTE, AT A DILUTION RATIO OF 1.2 TO 5, AND AT A SUPERFICIAL VELOCITY OF 200 TO 500 METERS PER HOUR. C. MAINTAINING SAID FERMENTATION BROTH AT A TEMPERATURE CONDUCIVE TO THE GROWTH OF SAID MICROORGANISM SOLELY BY INJCTTION OF SAID AIR INTO SAID FERMENTATION BROTH, AND D. DURING GROWTH O SAID MICROORGANISM CIRCULATING SAID FERMENTATION BROTH THROUGH A BED OF CHARCOAL AT A RATE SUCH THAT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF SAID FERMENTATION BROTH PASSES THROUGH SAID BED OF CHARCOAL WITHIN SAID RESIDENCE TIME, SAID BED OF CHARCOL BEING IN THE FORM OF PARTICLES OF CHARCOAL SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO AVOID FILTRATION OF THE CELLS OF SAID MICROORGANISM FROM SAID FERMENTATION BROTH.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A PROCESS FOR THE GROWTH OF AN AEROBIC, HYDROCARBON-CONSUMING MICROORGANISM COMPRISING: A. MAINTAINING IN A FERMENTATION VESSEL FOR A PREDETERMINED RESIDENCE TIME A LIQUID FERMENTATION BROTH CONTAINING A CULTURE OF SAID HYDROCARBON-CONSUMING MCROORGANISM AND, FOR THE GROWTH OF SAID HYDROCARBON-CONSUMING MICROORGANISM, A HYDROCARBON AS A SOURCE OF CARBON, MINERAL NUTRIENTS, AND WATER, B. INJECTING AIR INTO SAID FERMENTATION BROTH AT A RATE OF 1 TO 5S VOLUMES PER VOLUME OF SAID FERMENTATION BROTH PER MINUTE, AT A DILUTION RATIO OF 1.2 TO 5, AND AT A SUPERFICIAL VELOCITY OF 200 TO 500 METERS PER HOUR. C. MAINTAINING SAID FERMENTATION BROTH AT A TEMPERATURE CONDUCIVE TO THE GROWTH OF SAID MICROORGANISM SOLELY BY INJCTTION OF SAID AIR INTO SAID FERMENTATION BROTH, AND D. DURING GROWTH O SAID MICROORGANISM CIRCULATING SAID FERMENTATION BROTH THROUGH A BED OF CHARCOAL AT A RATE SUCH THAT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF SAID FERMENTATION BROTH PASSES THROUGH SAID BED OF CHARCOAL WITHIN SAID RESIDENCE TIME, SAID BED OF CHARCOL BEING IN THE FORM OF PARTICLES OF CHARCOAL SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO AVOID FILTRATION OF THE CELLS OF SAID MICROORGANISM FROM SAID FERMENTATION BROTH.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said air is injected into said fermentation broth at a rate of 5 to 10 volumes per volume of said fermentation broth per minute.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said injection of said air provides 95% of the cooling required to maintain said fermentation broth at said temperature conducive to the growth of said microorganism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said injection of said air is the sole means for maintainiNg said fermentation broth at a temperature conducive to the growth of said microorganism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said microorganism is grown in a batch fermentation operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said microorganism is grown in a continuous fermentation operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said microorganism is Pichia sp.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said microorganism is Candida lipolytica.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the depth of said fermentation broth is such that said air can be injected at the bottom of said fermentation broth at a pressure between 0.25 and 9 inches of mercury (gage).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the depth of said fermentation broth is such that said air can be injected at a pressure between 0.25 and 2 inches of mercury (gage).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the biomass concentration is maintained in said fermentation broth at 10 grams of the dry cells per liter of fermentation broth.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said particles of charcoal are of a size not smaller than 10 mesh.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said particles of charcoal are of a size between 4 and 8 mesh.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |