# US 5,348,803 A · Microcapsules and method for degrading hydrocarbons

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- Number: US 5,348,803 A
- Document ID: US5348803A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/744,093
- Filed: 1991-08-12
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1991-08-12
- Assignees: Southwest Research Institute
- Inventors: Herman W. Schlaemus; Mary C. Marshall; Michael G. MacNaughton; Matthew L. Alexander; James R. Scott
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348803A

## CPC

- C02F 1/681: {by addition of solid materials for removing an oily layer on water}
- C02F 3/344: {for digestion of mineral oil}
- C12N 1/04: Preserving or maintaining viable microorganisms (immobilised microorganisms C12N11/00)
- C12N 11/02: Enzymes or microbial cells immobilised on or in an organic carrier
- C12N 11/04: entrapped within the carrier, e.g. gel or hollow fibres
- Y10S 210/922: Oil spill cleanup, e.g. bacterial
- Y10T 428/2984: Microcapsule with fluid core [includes liposome]
- Y10T 428/2989: Microcapsule with solid core [includes liposome]
- 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)
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A microcapsule for use in degrading a hydrocarbon comprising a core material, a coating material, and at least one microorganism capable of degrading said hydrocarbon, said core material comprising a lipophilic material containing nutrients necessary for the sustenance of said microorganism, said coating material being water-insoluble, and said capsule having a density such that said microcapsule is kept in close proximity to said hydrocarbon to be degraded whens said microcapsule is applied thereto; and the method of using the microcapsule to degrade hydrocarbons.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A microcapsule for use in degrading a hydrocarbon consisting essentially of, a coating material, and at least one microorganism capable of degrading said hydrocarbon, said core material comprising a lipophilic material containing nutrients necessary for the sustenance of said microorganism, said coating material being water-insoluble, and said capsule having a density and/or surface chemistry such that said microcapsule is kept at the oil-water interface in close proximity to said hydrocarbon to be degraded when said microcapsule is applied thereto, said at least one microorganism being on the outer surface of said coating, included in said coating, or both.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The microcapsule of claim 1 wherein said microcapsule comprises a core of said lipophilic material having said nutrients dispersed substantially uniformly therethrough completely coated with said coating.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The microcapsule of claim 1 wherein said microcapsule comprises a coating material having dispersed therein droplets of said lipophilic material having said nutrients dispersed substantially uniformly therethrough said droplets, said at least one microorganism being on the outer surface of said microcapsule, included in said coating material, or both.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

The microcapsule of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein said core material is a polycaprolactone and said coating material is an alginate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2)

The microcapsule of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the microcapsule is lyophilized.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2)

The microcapsule of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein two or more different microorganisms capable of degrading said hydrocarbon are included with said microcapsule.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3)

A method of degrading a hydrocarbon comprising applying to said hydrocarbon a microcapsule or microcapsule system of any one of claims 1 to 3.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method of claim 7 wherein the microcapsule or microcapsule system is formed into a slurry in a liquid and then applied by spraying onto the said hydrocarbon.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein said hydrocarbon is an oil slick on a body of water and said microcapsule or microcapsule system is applied thereon in a lyophilized condition.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the density or surface chemistry of said microcapsule or microcapsule system is such as to cause the microcapsule or microcapsule system to stay on the surface of said hydrocarbon.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the density or surface chemistry of said microcapsule or microcapsule system is such as to cause the microcapsule or microcapsule system to be positioned near the oil-water interface.