Henkel Corporation

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

University of Cincinnati

The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Stephen J Vesper

Dean A Oester

Allen L Hall

Wendy Jo Davis-Hoover

Richard M Haugland

A bioremediation of subsurface soil formations contaminated with hazardous wastes is achieved by hydraulic fracturing of the subsurface soil formation with simultaneous introduction of sodium percarbonate coated with polyvinylidene chloride as a solid oxygen source (SOS) for establishing colonies of the biodegrading bacteria within the fractures of the soil formation.

Process for the biodegradation of hydrocarbons and ethers in subsurface soil by introduction of a solid oxygen source by hydraulic fracturing

Fungi and bacteria can be detected and rapidly quantified by using the nucleotide sequences taught here that are specific to the particular species or group of species of fungi or bacteria. Use of the sequences can be made with fluorescent labeled probes, such as in the TaqMan&trade; system which produces real time detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. Other methods of detection and quantification based on these sequences include hybridization, conventional PCR or other molecular techniques.

Method of identifying and quantifying specific fungi and bacteria

Bioavailability of lead and other heavy metals in the environment may be reduced by addition of microorganisms which sequester lead from the environment in the presence of phosphate. The microorganisms are highly mobile and are, therefore, capable of scavenging a material for lead, which they then sequester. The method basically consists of reducing bioavailability of lead in the environment by addition of,strain CHL004 (ATCC 55937) to said environment in the presence of phosphate which contains at least stoichiometric equivalent amounts of phosphate to lead.

Method for reducing bioavailability of lead by a lead-sequestering soil bacterium

The invention is a consortium of thermophilic methanotrophic organisms in culture medium containing said consortium reproduced at temperatures of 50.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., said consortium being comprised primarily of ovoid or rod-shaped organisms. The consortium can be instilled into soil or water to degrade pollutants, especially hydrocarbons and substituted hydrocarbons.

Thermophilic methanotrophs for high temperature oxidations

A mutant fungal strain, namely G. candidum NRRL Y-552, mutant known as Henkel 9-2-3-9 produces a lipase called 'UNLipase' providing a selectivity of 25:1 for oleic acid over palmitic acid by the assay procedure employed. UNLipase has a temperature range of operation of between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius (and no activity over 55 degrees Celsius). The optimum pH ranges are between 7.5 and 8.5. Magnesium cations increase activity, whereas calcium cations are inhibitory. The molecular weight of the protein appears to be 65 kDa by size exclusion chromatography. UNLipase shows a high degree of selectivity for hydrolysis, esterification and transesterification.

Mutant of geotrichum candidum which produces novel enzyme system to

Mutant of Geotrichum candidum which produces novel enzyme system to

A mutant fungal strain, namely G. candidum NRRL Y-552, mutant known as Henkel 9-2-3-9 (ATCC 74170) produces a lipase called 'UNLipase' providing a selectivity of 25:1 for oleic acid over palmitic acid by the assay procedure employed. UNLipase has a temperature range of operation of between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius (and no activity over 55 degrees Celsius). The optimum pH ranges are between 7.5 and 8.5. Magnesium cations increase activity, whereas calcium cations are inhibitory. The molecular weight of the protein appears to be 65 kDa by size exclusion chromatography. UNLipase shows a high degree of selectivity for hydrolysis, esterification and transesterification.

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Kettering, OH, United States of America

Stephen J Vesper