# US 2014/0154784 A1 · Method and Process for the Degradation of Cyclic Ethers in Ethoxylate-Containing Actives

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0154784 A1
- Document ID: US20140154784A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/692,982
- Filed: 2012-12-03
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03
- Assignees: Gregory van Buskirk
- Inventors: Gregory van Buskirk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154784A1

## CPC

- C02F 3/341: {Consortia of bacteria}
- C02F 3/342: {characterised by the enzymes used}
- C02F 2101/30: Organic compounds
- C02F 2101/301: {Detergents, surfactants}
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)

## Abstract

The invention provides a method and process for the degradation of cyclic ethers that are often found in liquid streams comprising cleaning actives, through the addition of cyclic ether-degrading enzymes or enzyme-producing microbes. The cleaning actives that may be successfully treated by the methods described are selected from among anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, solvents, derivatives thereof, as well as mixtures of any of the foregoing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for the degradation of cyclic ethers in a liquid stream, comprising adding to the liquid stream at least one of: a cyclic ether degrading enzyme, a cyclic ether degrading enzyme-producing microbe, and combinations thereof, wherein the liquid stream comprises at least one cleaning active, and wherein the cleaning active is selected from among the group comprising: anionic surfactants; nonionic surfactants; solvents; derivatives thereof; and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the microbe is selected from among the group comprising: Agrocybe aegerita; Burkholderia cepacia G4; Cordyceps sinesis; Escherichia coli TG1 (T2MO); Escherichia coli TG1 (T4MO); Escherichia coli TG1 (TpMO); Methylosinus trichorsporium OB3b; Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5; Pseudomonas mendocina KR1; Pseudonocardia benzenivorans B5; Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190; Pseudonocardia K1; Ralstopnia picketti PK01; and Rhodococcus RR1.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the enzyme is selected from among the group comprising: etherases, peroxygenases, monooxygenases, oxidases, and an etherase and an oxidase.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein:
a. the anionic surfactant is selected from among the group comprising alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkyl ether phosphates, derivatives of any of the foregoing, and combinations thereof; and wherein
b. the nonionic surfactant is selected from among the group comprising ethoxylates of linear and branched primary and secondary alcohols, amides, amines, derivatives of any of the foregoing, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 further wherein:
a. the anionic surfactant is selected from among the group comprising: a C8-18 fatty alcohol, which has been ethoxylated with an average of about 1-20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and subsequently sulfonated, carboxylated or phosphated; and
b. the nonionic surfactant is selected from among the group comprising: C6-18 alcohols with 1-15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; C6-18 alcohols with 1-15 moles of ethylene oxide and 1-10 moles of propylene oxide per mole of alcohol; C6-18 alkylphenols with 1-15 moles of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or ethylene oxide and propylene oxide per mole of alcohol; derivatives of any of the foregoing; and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the enzyme further comprises at least one organic or at least one inorganic cofactor, wherein
a. the organic cofactor is selected from among the group comprising: vitamins; non-vitamins; protein and non-protein molecules; derivatives of any of the foregoing; and combinations thereof; and
b. the inorganic cofactor is selected from among the group comprising: metal ions; iron-sulfur clusters; derivatives of any of the foregoing; and combinations thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the enzyme or enzyme-producing microbe demonstrates a specificity for cyclic ethers over linear ethers in a ratio that is at least 2:1, preferably 10:1 and most preferably 100:1 cyclic ether to linear ether.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid system retains at least 10%, preferably 50%, and most preferably 90% of its viability, relative to liquid systems without the addition of the cyclic ether degrading enzymes or enzyme-producing microbes described herein.