Microbiological alkane oxidation process
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsRamesh N. Patel, Ching-Tsang Hou, Allen I. Laskin
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Abstract
Disclosed is a process for the microbiological oxidation of C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanes and cycloalkanes by contacting said C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanes or cycloalkanes, under aerobic conditions, in the presence of microorganisms or enzyme preparations derived therefrom, wherein said microorganisms have been aerobically grown in a nutrient containing methane. The microorganisms are newly isolated obligative and facultative methylotrophs.
Claims10
A process for increasing the oxidative state of an oxidizable organic substrate selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkanes to the corresponding alcohols, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkanes to the corresponding 1- and 2- alkanols and methyl ketones which comprises:
- oxidizing said oxidizable substrate under aerobic conditions, in the presence of cells of a bacterial methylotrophic microorganism or an enzyme preparation prepared from said cells which exhibits oxygenase enzyme activity until at least a portion of said corresponding oxidized product is produced in isolatable amounts, wherein said microorganisms have been aerobically grown in a nutrient medium containing methane which provides the carbon and energy source for growth of the cells and induces oxygenase enzyme activity in said cells and said microorganisms are methane-utilizing microorganism strains selected from the group consisting of:
- Methylosinum trichosporium--(CRL 15 PM1)--NRRL B-11,202
- Methylosinus sporium--(CRL 16 PM2)--NRRL B-11,203
- Methylocystis parvus--(CRL 18 PM4)--NRRL B-11,204
- Methylomonas methanica--(CRL M4P)--NRRL B-11,205
- Methylomonas methanica--(CRL 21 PM7)--NRRL B-11,206
- Methylomonas albus--(CRL M8Y)--NRRL B-11,207
- Methylomonas streptobacterium--(CRL 17 PM3)--NRRL B-11,208
- Methylomonas agile--(CRL 22 PM9)--NRRL B-11,209
- Methylomonas rubrum--(CRL M6P)--NRRL B-11,210
- Methylomonas rubrum--(CRL 20 PM6)--NRRL B-11,211
- Methylomonas rosaceus--(CRL M1OP)--NRRL B-11,212
- Methylomonas rosaceus--(CRL M7P)--NRRL B-11,213
- Methylobacter chroococcum--(CRL M6)--NRRL B-11,214
- Methylobacter chroococcum--(CRL 23 PM8)--NRRL B-11,215
- Methylobacter bovis--(CRL M1Y)--NRRL B-11,216
- Methylobacter bovis--(CRL 19 PM5)--NRRL B-11,217
- Methylobacter vinelandii--(CRL M5Y)--NRRL B-11,218
- Methylococcus capsulatus--(CRL M1)--NRRL B-11,219
- Methylococcus minimus--(CRL 24 PM12)--NRRL B-11,220
- Methylococcus capsulatus--(CRL 25 PM13)--NRRL B-11,221
- Methylobacterium organophilum--(CRL 26 R6)--NRRL B-11,222
- and mutants thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.