US4415662A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microbial degradation of petroleum materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-07-30
•
Granted: 1983-11-15
•
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, Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. and Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, or an enzymatic active material obtained therefrom. The microorganism and enzymatic active material may be used in combination with a carrier and/or detergent. 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
2026-10-30 03:49
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/14; C12N1/145; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/68; C02F1/681; C02F1/682; C02F3/00; C02F3/34; C02F3/342; C12N1/26; C12N11/00; C12N11/14; C12N9/00; C12R; C12R2001/00; C12R2001/645; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 69
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising application of Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, to said petroleum material in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising application of Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, to said petroleum material in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
53 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 Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, and a carrier medium to said petroleum material, in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
53 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 Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, and a carrier medium to said petroleum material, in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said carrier medium contains particulate porcelain clay.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said carrier medium contains particulate bentonite clay.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said carrier medium further comprises particulate sodium carbonate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
25 words
The method of claims 3 or 4 further comprising the addition of a detergent to said composition prior to application thereof to said petroleum materials.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the addition of a detergent to said composition prior to application thereof to said petroleum materials.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products, comprising (a) growing Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, in a liquid culture medium; (b) separating and filtering the resulting broth; (c) adjusting the pH of the filtrate from step (b) to about 4 to 4.5; (d) adding a carrier medium to said filtrate to absorb an enzymatic active material produced by the fungi; (e) agitating the carrier medium--filtrate mixture; (f) separating and recovering the carrier medium from said mixture; and (g) applying said enzymatic active material-bearing carrier medium to said petroleum material in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of effecting degradation of petroleum materials selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum and petroleum products, comprising (a) growing Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, in a liquid culture medium; (b) separating and filtering the resulting broth; (c) adjusting the pH of the filtrate from step (b) to about 4 to 4.5; (d) adding a carrier medium to said filtrate to absorb an enzymatic active material produced by the fungi; (e) agitating the carrier medium--filtrate mixture; (f) separating and recovering the carrier medium from said mixture; and (g) applying said enzymatic active material-bearing carrier medium to said petroleum material in an amount effective to degrade said petroleum material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said culture medium contains glucose and cotton seed hydrolysate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said culture medium contains corn starch and cotton seed hydrolysate.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of claims 9 or 10 wherein said culture medium further contains sodium chloride.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said carrier medium contains particulate porcelain clay.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said carrier medium contains particulate bentonite clay.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
33 words
The method of claims 8, 12 or 13 wherein said carrier medium is added to said filtrate in an amount of from about 6 to about 10 grams per liter of said filtrate.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of claims 12 or 13 wherein said carrier medium further comprises particulate sodium carbonate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said carrier medium comprises about 50% by weight particulate sodium carbonate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said particulate sodium carbonate is added to the other carrier medium constituents after said constituents are recovered from said filtrate, and said combination is thereafter ground.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said particulate sodium carbonate is added to the other carrier medium constituents after said constituents are recovered from said filtrate, and said combination is thereafter ground.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of claims 17 or 18 wherein said ground combination is thereafter air dried under vacuum.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the addition of a detergent to said composition prior to application thereof to said petroleum materials.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of preparing an enzymatic active material for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products, comprising (a) growing Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, in a liquid culture medium; (b) harvesting the resulting broth; and (c) isolating from said broth an enzymatic active material.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of preparing an enzymatic active material for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products, comprising (a) growing Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, in a liquid culture medium; (b) harvesting the resulting broth; and (c) isolating from said broth an enzymatic active material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said culture medium contains glucose and cotton seed hydrolysate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said culture medium contains corn starch and cotton seed hydrolysate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said culture medium further contains sodium chloride.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said culture medium further contains sodium chloride.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of preparing a composition for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products, comprising (a) growing Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, in a liquid culture medium; (b) separating and filtering the resulting broth; (c) adjusting the pH of the filtrate from step (b) to about 4 to 4.5; (d) adding a carrier medium to said filtrate to adsorb an enzymatic active material produced by the fungi; (e) agitating the carrier medium-filtrate mixture; and (f) separating and recovering the enzymatic active material-bearing carrier medium composition from said mixture.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of preparing a composition for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products, comprising (a) growing Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, in a liquid culture medium; (b) separating and filtering the resulting broth; (c) adjusting the pH of the filtrate from step (b) to about 4 to 4.5; (d) adding a carrier medium to said filtrate to adsorb an enzymatic active material produced by the fungi; (e) agitating the carrier medium-filtrate mixture; and (f) separating and recovering the enzymatic active material-bearing carrier medium composition from said mixture.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the addition of a detergent to the enzymatic active material-bearing carrier medium composition.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said detergent is added to said composition in an amount of about 1 to 5 volumes of said detergent per volume of said composition.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of claims 26 or 27 wherein said carrier medium contains particulate porcelain clay.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of claims 26 or 27 wherein said carrier medium contains particulate bentonite clay.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said carrier medium is added to said filtrate in an amount of from about 6 to about 10 grams per liter of said filtrate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said carrier medium is added to said filtrate in an amount of from about 6 to about 10 grams per liter of said filtrate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said carrier medium further comprises particulate sodium carbonate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said carrier medium further comprises particulate sodium carbonate.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said particulate sodium carbonate is added to the other carrier medium constituents after said constituents are recovered from said filtrate, and said combination is thereafter ground.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said particulate sodium carbonate is added to the other carrier medium constituents after said constituents are recovered from said filtrate, and said combination is thereafter ground.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said ground combination is thereafter air dried under vacuum.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said ground combination is thereafter air dried under vacuum.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of claims 26 or 27 wherein said culture medium contains glucose and cotton seed hydrolysate.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
18 words
The method of claims 26 or 27 wherein said culture medium contains corn starch and cotton seed hydrolysate.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 21.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 22.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 23.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 24.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
11 words
The enzymatic active material produced by the process of claim 25.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
12 words
The composition produced by the processes of claims 24, 27 or 28.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 29.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 30.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 31.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 32.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 33.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 34.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 35.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 36.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 37.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition produced by the process of claim 38.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
32 words
An enzymatic active material which degrades, by emulsification and solubilization, the hydrocarbon constituents of crude petroleum and petroleum materials, produced by Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
32 words
An enzymatic active material which degrades, by emulsification and solubilization, the hydrocarbon constituents of crude petroleum and petroleum materials, produced by Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
34 words
A biologically pure culture of the fungus Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, said culture being capable of effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products in an environment.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
34 words
A biologically pure culture of the fungus Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, said culture being capable of effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products in an environment.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
41 words
A composition comprising a biologically pure culture of the fungus Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, said culture being capable of effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products in an environment, and a carrier medium.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
41 words
A composition comprising a biologically pure culture of the fungus Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, said culture being capable of effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products in an environment, and a carrier medium.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
35 words
A composition for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising (a) an enzymatic active material produced by Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, and (b) a carrier medium.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
35 words
A composition for effecting degradation of crude petroleum and petroleum products comprising (a) an enzymatic active material produced by Actinomucor elegans (Ediam) Benj. & Hasselt, Strain No. TC-405, ATCC 20613, 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 |