Innovative Environmental Technologies, Inc.

Environmental Intellectual Property, Inc.

Innovative Environment Technologies, Inc.

Antonis Karachalios

Michael Scalzi

James F Mueller

A method for controlling xylophages (e.g., termites, Asian Beetle, Emerald Ash borer, Weevils, Deathwatch Caterpillars, cockroaches) by inhibiting methane production of methanogenic Archaea in the digestive tract thereof. The inhibiting of the critical biochemical pathways specific to the methanogenic Archaea is achieved by contacting the xylophage with one or more antimethanogenic reagent (AMR) compounds. The AMRs may include, for example, naturally-occurring statins (which may be found in red yeast rice) or derivatives thereof, linoleic acid or related compounds, essential oils, certain synthetic compounds or combinations thereof. As a result, the effectiveness of the methanogenic Archaea to produce methane is compromised. This subsequently results into the malfunctioning of the xylophages' digestive system and provides a safe, natural, green and sustainable means of controlling the xylophages.

Xylophage control using antimethanogenic reagents

A method for inhibiting methane production in the digestive tract of methanogenic Archaea (e.g., termites, other wood boring pests). The inhibiting of the critical biochemical pathways specific to the methanogenic Archaea is achieved by having the methanogenic Archaea ingest an anti-methanogenic compound. The anti-methanogenic compound may include, for example, naturally-occurring statins or derivatives thereof, linoleic acid or related compounds, essential oils, or some combination thereof. The naturally-occurring statins can be found in the red yeast rice extract or related biomass. As a result, the effectiveness of the methanogenic Archaea to produce methane is compromised, which subsequently results into the malfunctioning of the xylophages' digestive system. This provides a safe, natural, green and sustainable means of controlling many pests such as the Asian Beetle, Emerald Ash borer, Weevils, Deathwatch Caterpillars, and termites.

Inhibition of methanogenesis to control wood boring insects and pestilence

A method for inhibiting methane production in naturally occurring or induced reducing conditions, thus subsequently resulting into inhibition of the biomethylation process of the heavy metals is disclosed. The disclosed inhibiting composition blocks 3-hydroxy-3-ethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, and 8-hydroxy-5-deazaflavin (coenzyme F) in the methane production pathway, due to the presence of lovastatin in the red yeast rice. As a result the methanogens are unable to produce enough quantities of methane that will result to the production of methylmetal(loids), which are usually volatile and more toxic than their inorganic counterparts due to increased water solubility and hydrophobicity.

Heavy metal stabilization and methane inhibition during induced or naturally occurring reducing conditions in contaminated media

A method for the removal of semi-volatile organic compounds in soils, sludges, groundwater, process water, and wastewater is presented. Oxidation and biological attenuation processes utilize peroxide, persulfates, percarbonates, and/or other oxidants with trivalent metals, such as ferric iron (Fe3+) or manganic ion (Mn) as activators. The resulting chemical oxidation process yields degradation compounds which facilitate further attenuation via biological processes.

Chemical oxidation and biological attenuation process for the treatment of contaminated media

This method of restricting methane production in methanogenic bacteria, by the use of the enzyme and coenzyme inhibitors, works during anaerobic reductive dechlorination. Various compounds such as, but not limited to, red yeast rice, vitamin B10 derivatives, and ethanesulfonates are utilized to disrupt these different enzyme and coenzyme systems responsible for the production of methane. This method affects the competition of the methanogen and halo bacteria for the organic hydrogen donors that are injected in the soil and groundwater system during the remediation process.

Inhibition of methane production during anaerobic reductive dechlorination

A method for the removal of semi-volatile organic compounds in soils, sludges, groundwater, process water, and wastewater is presented. Oxidation and biological attenuation processes utilize persulfates and other oxidants with trivalent metals, such as ferrous iron or Mn, as activators. The resulting chemical oxidation process yields degradation compounds which facilitate further attenuation via biological processes.

Anaerobic reductive dechlorination processes remove chlorinated solvents from contaminated subsurface soil and ground water. The presence of organic hydrogen donors enables anaerobic microorganisms present in the subsurface soil and groundwater to accelerate the reductive dechlorination process. The present invention provides an alternative method to control the release rate of organic hydrogen donors during dechlorination. The invention utilizes encapsulated substrates to control the release rate of organic hydrogen donors, therefore accelerating the biotic process of anaerobic reductive dechlorination.

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North Wales, PA, United States of America

Antonis Karachalios