Useful for cleavage of organic C-S bonds Bacillus sphaericus microorganism

Claim 2

A process for reducing the sulfur content of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material comprising, contacting a sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material with microorganism Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC No. 53969.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein said carbonaceous material is coal.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 1 wherein said carbonaceous material is hydrocarbon oil.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1 wherein said microorganism metabolizes said sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material by cleavage of organic C-S bonds and production of inorganic sulfate when grown in a growth medium comprising mineral nutrients and an assimilable source of carbon in the substantial absence of a sulfur-containing compound except said sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material, and in the presence of a nutritional helper culture providing completion of elements of nutrition for growth of said Bacillus sphaericus and in the presence of oxygen at temperatures about 20° to about 34° C.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 4 wherein the pH is maintained at about 6 to about 7.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 5 wherein the temperature is maintained at about 30° to about 32° C.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 4 wherein the temperature is maintained at about 30° to about 32° C.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 4 wherein said nutritional helper culture is bacteria selected from the species consisting of Enterobacter and Klebsiella.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 4 wherein said carbonaceous material is coal.

Claim 11

A process according to claim 4 wherein said carbonaceous material is hydrocarbon oil.

Claim 12

A process for cleavage of organic C-S bonds comprising, contacting an organic carbonaceous material having C-S bonds with microorganism Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC No. 53969.

Claim 13

A process for cleavage of organic C-S bonds comprising, contacting an organic carbonaceous material having C-S bonds with microorganism Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC No. 53969.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 11 wherein said organic carbonaceous material is a component in an organic synthesis process.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 11 wherein said organic material is a component in a recycling process.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 11 wherein said microorganism metabolizes said sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material by cleavage of organic C-S bonds and production of inorganic sulfate when grown in a growth medium comprising mineral nutrients and an assimilable source of carbon in the substantial absence of a sulfur-containing compound except said sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material, and in the presence of a nutritional helper culture providing completion of elements of nutrition for growth of said Bacillus sphaericus and in the presence of oxygen at temperatures about 20° to about 34° C.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 14 wherein the pH is maintained at about 6 to about 7.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 15 wherein the temperature is maintained at about 30° to about 32° C.

Claim 19

A process according to claim 14 wherein the temperature is maintained at about 30° to about 32° C.

Claim 20

A process according to claim 14 wherein said nutritional helper culture is bacteria selected from the species consisting of Enterobacter and Klebsiella.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 14 wherein said carbonaceous material is coal.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 14 wherein said carbonaceous material is hydrocarbon oil.

Claim 23

A process for cleavage of organic C-S bonds comprising, contacting an organic carbonaceous material having C-S bonds with organic sulfur selective derivative microorganisms of Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC 53969, which selectively reduces the sulfur content of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material by cleavage of organic C-S bonds in a growth medium comprising mineral nutrients and an assimilable source of carbon in the substantial absence of a sulfur-containing compound except said sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material, and in the presence of a nutritional helper culture providing completion of elements of nutrition for growth of said microorganisms and in the presence of oxygen at temperatures about 20° to about 34° C.

Claim 24

A process for cleavage of organic C-S bonds comprising, contacting an organic carbonaceous material having C-S bonds with organic sulfur selective derivative microorganisms of Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC 53969, which selectively reduces the sulfur content of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material by cleavage of organic C-S bonds in a growth medium comprising mineral nutrients and an assimilable source of carbon in the substantial absence of a sulfur-containing compound except said sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material, and in the presence of a nutritional helper culture providing completion of elements of nutrition for growth of said microorganisms and in the presence of oxygen at temperatures about 20° to about 34° C.

Claim 25

A process for reducing sulfur content of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material comprising, contacting a sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material with organic sulfur selective derivative microorganisms of Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC 53969, which selectively reduces the sulfur content of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material by cleavage of organic C-S bonds in a growth medium comprising mineral nutrients and an assimilable source of carbon in the substantial absence of a sulfur-containing compound except said sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material, and in the presence of a nutritional helper culture providing completion of elements of nutrition for growth of said microorganisms and in the presence of oxygen at temperatures about 20° to about 34° C.

Claim 26

A process for reducing sulfur content of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material comprising, contacting a sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material with organic sulfur selective derivative microorganisms of Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC 53969, which selectively reduces the sulfur content of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material by cleavage of organic C-S bonds in a growth medium comprising mineral nutrients and an assimilable source of carbon in the substantial absence of a sulfur-containing compound except said sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material, and in the presence of a nutritional helper culture providing completion of elements of nutrition for growth of said microorganisms and in the presence of oxygen at temperatures about 20° to about 34° C.