Microorganisms for biodegrading toxic chemicals

As a composition of matter, a biocatalyst which comprises

• a particulate solid substrate to which is affixed a biologically pure culture of a microorganism selected from the group consisting of Methylobacter rhodium ATCC 113-X and Methylobacter species ATCC 138-X.

A process for the separation from a toxin-contaminated soil, or sediment of a natural environment a mutant microorganism suitable for affixing to a substrate to form a biocatalyst composition, which comprises:

• obtaining said toxin-contaminated soil, or sediment, from said natural environment,
• isolating a mixed colony of microorganisms from said toxin-contaminated soil, or sediment, colonizing said microorganisms on an agar medium while subjecting said microorganisms to increasing concentrations of a toxin analogous or identical to that to which the colony or microorganisms was originally exposed, in the presence of a mutating agent,
• separating live microorganisms from microorganisms that are killed, and continuing to colonize said live microorganisms while repeatedly subjecting the surviving microorganisms to continued increasing concentrations of said toxin, in the continued presence of a mutating agent, while forcing surviving microorganisms to accept the toxin as a substitute carbon source, until such time that a biologically pure culture of a surviving mutant microorganism, identified as a microorganism selected from the group consisting of Methylobacter rhodinum ATCC 113-X and Methylobacter species ATCC 138-X will accept the toxin as a source of carbon.