IP Library Granted Patent US 8,968,718
Granted Patent B2
US 8,968,718 · App. 13/848,901 · Granted Mar 3, 2015

Bioremediation method for accelerated biological decomposition of petroleum hydrocarbons in sea ice-covered polar regions, and bacteria and enzyme mixtures as agents for carrying out said method

Inventors: Elisabeth Helmke (Bremerhaven, DE); Birte Gerdes (Bremerhaven, DE); Jutta Juergens (Bremerhaven, DE); Kristine Reuter (Langen, DE)
Assignee: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum fuer Polar-und Meeresforschung
C02F3/341B09C1/10C02F3/12C02F3/342C02F3/343C12P39/00C12R1/01C02F1/40C02F2101/32C02F2103/08C02F2301/103C02F2305/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,968,718
App. No.
13/848,901
Granted
Mar 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bacterial mixture usable in an inoculum usable in a bioremediateion method for accelerated biological degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in a sea ice-covered polar region includes a plurality of isolated cold-adapted autochthonous bacterial strains. Each of the bacterial strains has petroleum hydrocarbons degrading activity at an ambient temperature of −3° C. and each has a different temperature tolerance range, a different salinity tolerance range, a different petroleum hydrocarbons degradation spectrum, and a different capacity to emulsify oil.

Claims (5)

1. An enviromental friendly carrier material comprising a bacterial mixture capable of accelerated biological degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in a sea ice-covered polar region, the bacterial mixture comprising a plurality of isolated different cold-adapted autochthonous bacterial strains each having petroleum hydrocarbons degrading activity at an ambient temperature of −3° C. and each having a different temperature tolerance range, a different salinity tolerance range, a different petroleum hydrocarbons degradation spectrum, and a different capacity to emulsify oil, wherein the bacterial mixture is immobilized on the carrier material, and wherein bacterial the bacterial mixture comprises at least one isolated bacterial strain selected from the group consisting of Rhodococcus GH-t deposited with the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures Depository in Braunschweig, Germany (DSMZ) and assigned accession number DSM 18943; Dietzia GH-2 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18944; Shewanella GH-4 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18946; Marinobacter GH-9 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18951; Pseudomonas GH-10 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18952; Oleispira GH-11 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18953.

2. The carrier material having the bacterial mixture according to claim 1 , wherein bacterial strains comprise dominant bacterial strains that are isolated after enrichment in a laboratory mesocosm setup over a period of 12 to 36 months, the mesocosm being prepared with sea ice from a current or potential contamination site, artificially contaminated with crude oil, supplied with nutrients, and incubated at −3° C.

3. The carrier material according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterial mixture further comprises at least one isolated additional bacterial strain to broaden an overall degradation spectrum and enhance an overall oil emulsifying capacity, the at least one additional bacterial strain being selected from the group consisting of: Marinobacter GH-3 deposited with the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures Depository in Braunschweig. Germany (DSMZ) and assigned accession number DSM 18945; Marinomonas GH- 5 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18947; Pseudoalteromonas GH-6 deposited with the DSMZ and assined accession number DSM 18948; Psychrobacter GH-7 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18949; and Jannaschia GH-8 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18950.

4. An enviromental friendly carrier material comprising a bacterial mixture capable of accelerated biological degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in a sea ice-covered polar region at an ambient temperature of −3° C., the bacterial mixture being obtained by isolating dominant bacterial strains that are enriched in a laboratory mesocosm setup over a period of 12 to 36 months, the mesocosm being prepared with sea ice from a current or potential contamination site, artificially contaminated with crude oil, supplied with nutrients, and incubated at −3° C., wherein the bacterial mixture immobilized on the carrier material.

5. An enviromental friendly carrier material comprising a bacterial mixture capable of accelerated biological degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in a sea ice-covered polar region, the bacterial mixture comprising a plurality of isolated different cold-adapted autochthonous bacterial strains each having petroleum hydrocarbons degrading activity at an ambient temperature of −3° C., and each having a different temperature tolerance range, a different salinity tolerance range, a different petroleum hydrocarbons degradation spectrum, and a different capacity to emulsify oil, wherein the bacterial mixture immobilized on the carrier material, and wherein the bacterial mixture comprises each of: Rhodococcus GH-t deposited with the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures Depository in Braunschweig, Germany (DSMZ) and assigned accession number DSM 18943; Dietzia GH-2 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18944; Shewanella GH-4 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18946; Marinobacter GH-9 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18951; Pseudomonas GH-10 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18952; Oleispira GH-11 deposited with the DSMZ and assigned accession number DSM 18953.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2014
From: HELMKE, ELISABETH; GERDES, BIRTE; JUERGENS, JUTTA; REUTER, KRISTINE
To: STIFTUNG ALFRED-WEGENER-INSTITUT FUER POLAR-UND MEERESFORSCHUNG
Reel/Frame 034274/0209 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 19, 2014
From: STIFTUNG ALFRED-WEGENER-INSTITUT HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUER POLAR- UND MEERESFORSCHUNG
To: ALFRED-WEGENER-INSTITUT HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUER POLAR- UND MEERESFORSCHUNG
Reel/Frame 032920/0378 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2007 003 644 · Jan 21, 2007 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 12523818
Related Publication 20130210112A1 · Aug 15, 2013