US4415661A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microbial degradation of petroleum materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-07-30
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Granted: 1983-11-15
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Expires: 2001-07-30
Abstract
Abstract Crude petroleum and petroleum products such as encountered in land or sea-borne spills are degradated by contact with the microorganism, Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, or enzymatic active material obtained therefrom. The microorganism and enzymatic active material may be used in combination with a carrier medium. The microorganism and enzymatic active material are effective for degradation in inhospitable climates and various land and open water conditions, generate no deleterious products or chemicals, and are long-acting and rapid in onset of initial activity.
Inventors
- 👤 Mandayam J. Thirumalachar
- 👤 Mandayam J. Narasimhan, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:45
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/14; C12N1/145; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/68; C02F1/681; C02F3/00; C02F3/34; C02F3/342; C12N1/26; C12N11/00; C12N11/02; C12N9/00; C12R; C12R2001/00; C12R2001/645; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising application of Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, to said petroleum material in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
42 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising application of Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, to said petroleum material in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising application of a composition comprising Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, and a carrier medium to said petroleum material, in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising application of a composition comprising Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, and a carrier medium to said petroleum material, in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
21 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein said crude petroleum or petroleum products are present in a salt water environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said carrier medium is selected from the group consisting of particulate wheat bran, micronized cereal, micronized corn cob, vegetable waste products, hay, seaweed powder and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein a culture medium is added to said petroleum material after application of said Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, thereto.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising a. growing Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, in liquid culture medium; b. harvesting the resulting broth; and c. applying said broth to said petroleum material in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising a. growing Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, in liquid culture medium; b. harvesting the resulting broth; and c. applying said broth to said petroleum material in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said growth is continued until the nutrition provided by said culture medium is substantially exhausted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said culture medium contains salt water.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
18 words
The method of claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein said culture medium contains glucose and cotton seed hydrolysate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said culture medium further contains particulate wheat bran.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein a culture medium is added to said petroleum material after application of said broth thereto.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of claims 7 or 8 wherein said culture medium contains particulate wheat bran.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of claims 6 or 10 wherein said broth is air dried under vacuum and recovered as dry material, said dry material thereafter being applied to said petroleum material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein particulate wheat bran is further added to said petroleum material after application of said broth thereto.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
26 words
The method of claims 6, 7, 8 or 10 wherein said broth is applied to said petroleum materials in the form of a finely divided spray.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of preparing an enzymatic active material for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising a. growing Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, in a liquid culture medium; b. harvesting the resulting broth; and c. isolating from said broth said enzymatic active material.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of preparing an enzymatic active material for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising a. growing Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, in a liquid culture medium; b. harvesting the resulting broth; and c. isolating from said broth said enzymatic active material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said isolation of said enzymatic active principle compound comprises air drying of said broth under vacuum and recovery of a dry material.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of claims 16 or 17 wherein said culture medium contains glucose and cotton seed hydrolysate.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of claims 16 or 17 wherein said culture medium contains salt water.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of claims 16 or 17 wherein said culture medium contains particulate wheat bran.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of claims 16 or 17 wherein said culture medium contains glucose, cotton seed hydrolysate and salt water.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said culture medium further contains particulate wheat bran.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 16 or 17.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 18.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 19.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 20.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 21.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 22.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
An enzymatic active material which degrades, by emulsification and solubilization, the hydrocarbon constituents of crude petroleum and petroleum materials, produced by Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
An enzymatic active material which degrades, by emulsification and solubilization, the hydrocarbon constituents of crude petroleum and petroleum materials, produced by Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A biologically pure culture of the fungus Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, said culture being capable of effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
A biologically pure culture of the fungus Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, said culture being capable of effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
A composition comprising a biologically pure culture of the fungus Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, said culture being capable of effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products, and a carrier medium.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
A composition comprising a biologically pure culture of the fungus Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, said culture being capable of effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products, and a carrier medium.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
A composition for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising the enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 16 or 17 and a carrier medium.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
A composition for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising a. an enzymatic active material produced by Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, and b. a carrier medium.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
A composition for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising a. an enzymatic active material produced by Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., ATCC 20614, and b. a carrier medium.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-14 | 1987-05-16 | 1987-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-14 | 1991-05-16 | 1991-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-14 | 1995-05-16 | 1995-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |