Bacterial strain for purifying hydrocarbons pollution and purification process

Claim 2

A biologically pure culture of a Pseudomonas bacterium having all the identifying characteristics of Ferm BP-63, BP-64 or a mixture of BP-63 and BP-64 which exhibits an accelerated growth when hydrocarbons are added during a logarithmic growth phase of a growth curve which is generated during cultivation of the bacterium in a Stephanson Wetham trophic culture medium, and which emulsifies a hydrocarbon and brine solution so that the solution becomes nearly transparent through a cloudy state by emulsification and wherein the bacteria perishes after conclusion of assimilation of said hydrocarbons within about the period required for multiplication.

Claim 3

A biologically pure culture of a Pseudomonas bacterium of claim 1, wherein said bacterium exhibits a growth stimulation angle of at least 1°.

Claim 4

A biologically pure culture of a Pseudomonas bacterium of claim 1, wherein said bacterium possesses an EP-value of at least 0.1.

Claim 5

A biologically pure culture of a Pseudomonas bacterium of claim 1, wherein said hydrocarbons are selected from the group consisting of crude petroleum, refined petroleum products, natural gas, and liquid coal.

Claim 6

A bacterial preparation for purifying hydrocarbon pollution comprising the biologically pure culture of claim 1, and a coating agent comprising hydrocarbon.

Claim 7

A process for purifying a hydrocarbon polluted brine solution area which comprises multiplying in the polluted area said biologically pure culture of a Pseudomonas bacterium of claim 1.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 6, wherein the hydrocarbon polluted area is a hydrocarbon polluted sea zone.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 6, wherein the hydrocarbon polluted area is an oil tanker, a petroleum storage tank, or an activated sludge processing plant.

Claim 10

A process for producing a Pseudomonas bacterium comprising: (1) subculturing a naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons, a nitrogen compound, and brine to obtain a first non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium; (2) subculturing said first non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons, vitamins, and brine to obtain a second non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium; (3) subculturing the second non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons and brine to obtain a Pseudomonas bacterium having all the identifing characteristics of FERM BP-63 or BP-64 which exhibits an accelerated growth when hydrocarbons are added during a logarithmic growth phase of a growth curve which is generated during cultivation of the bacterium in a Stephanson Wetham trophic culture medium, and which emulsifies a hydrocarbon and brine solution so that the solution becomes nearly transparent through a cloudy state by emulsification and wherein the process is carried out in the absence of added surfactant; and (4) recovering a Psendomonas bacterium having all the identifing characteristics of FERM BP-63 or BP-64.

Claim 11

A process for producing a Pseudomonas bacterium comprising: (1) subculturing a naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons, a nitrogen compound, and brine to obtain a first non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium; (2) subculturing said first non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons, vitamins, and brine to obtain a second non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium; (3) subculturing the second non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons and brine to obtain a Pseudomonas bacterium having all the identifing characteristics of FERM BP-63 or BP-64 which exhibits an accelerated growth when hydrocarbons are added during a logarithmic growth phase of a growth curve which is generated during cultivation of the bacterium in a Stephanson Wetham trophic culture medium, and which emulsifies a hydrocarbon and brine solution so that the solution becomes nearly transparent through a cloudy state by emulsification and wherein the process is carried out in the absence of added surfactant; and (4) recovering a Psendomonas bacterium having all the identifing characteristics of FERM BP-63 or BP-64.

Claim 12

A process for producing a Pseudomonas bacterium of claim 9, wherein said naturally occurring Pseudomonas bacterium is Fermentation Research Institute Deposit Number FERM P-2927 or FERM P-2928.

Claim 13

The process according to claim 9 further comprising: after Step (3) and before Step (4) acclimatizing the bacterium obtained in Step (3) to a higher concentration of hydrocarbons.

Claim 14

The process according to claim 11 further comprising: after acclimatizing the bacterium and before Step (4), cultivating the bacterium obtained in the acclimatizing Step on a medium comprising hydrocarbons and brine under a particular temperature so that the bacterium exhibits an assimilating ability to a desired temperature range.

Claim 15

A biologically pure culture of a Pseudomonas bacterium having all the identifying characteristics of FERM BP-63, BP-64, or a mixture of BP-63 and BP-64 wherein said bacterium is obtained by a process comprising: (1) subculturing a naturally occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons, a nitrogen compound, and brine to obtain a first non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium; (2) subculturing said first non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons, vitamins, and brine to obtain a second non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium; and (3) subculturing said second non-naturally-occurring Pseudmonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons and brine to obtain a Pseudmonas bacterium which exhibits an accelerated growth during a logarithmic growth phase of a growth curve which is generated during cultivation of the bacterium in a Stephanson Wetham trophic culture medium, and which emulsifies a hydrocarbon and brine solution so that the solution becomes nearly transparent through a cloudy state by emulsification and wherein the bacteria perishes after conclusion of assimilation of said hydrocarbons within about the period required for multiplication.

Claim 16

A biologically pure culture of a Pseudomonas bacterium having all the identifying characteristics of FERM BP-63, BP-64, or a mixture of BP-63 and BP-64 wherein said bacterium is obtained by a process comprising: (1) subculturing a naturally occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons, a nitrogen compound, and brine to obtain a first non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium; (2) subculturing said first non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons, vitamins, and brine to obtain a second non-naturally-occurring Pseudomonas bacterium; and (3) subculturing said second non-naturally-occurring Pseudmonas bacterium in a medium comprising hydrocarbons and brine to obtain a Pseudmonas bacterium which exhibits an accelerated growth during a logarithmic growth phase of a growth curve which is generated during cultivation of the bacterium in a Stephanson Wetham trophic culture medium, and which emulsifies a hydrocarbon and brine solution so that the solution becomes nearly transparent through a cloudy state by emulsification and wherein the bacteria perishes after conclusion of assimilation of said hydrocarbons within about the period required for multiplication.

Claim 17

A Pseudomonas bacterium according to claim 13, wherein said bacterium is obtained by a process further comprising: (4) acclimatizing the bacterium obtained in step (3) to a higher concentration of hydrocarbons.

Claim 18

A Pseudomonas bacterium according to claim 14, wherein said bacterium is obtained by a process further comprising: (5) cultivating the bacterium obtained in step (4) on a medium comprising hydrocarbons and brine under a particular temperature so that the bacterium exhibits an assimilating ability to a desired temperature range.

Claim 19

A bacterial preparation for purifying a hydrocarbon polluted brine solution comprising the biologically pure culture of claim 13 and a coating agent comprising a hydrocarbon.