# US 5,350,684 A · Extremely halophilic methanogenic archaebacteria

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- Number: US 5,350,684 A
- Document ID: US5350684A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/668,157
- Filed: 1991-03-12
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1987-10-09
- Assignees: Research Development Corporation of Japan; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Rikagaku Kenkysuho
- Inventors: Naoki Nakatsugawa; Koki Horikoshi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350684A

## CPC

- C12N 1/205: Bacterial isolates
- C12P 5/023: {Methane}
- C12R 2001/01: Bacteria or Actinomycetales {; using bacteria or Actinomycetales}
- Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
- Y10S 435/822: using bacteria or actinomycetales
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- C12R: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES C12C - C12Q, RELATING TO MICROORGANISMS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Methanohalococcus alcaliphilum having an optimum growth sodium chloride concentration ranging from about 2.5 to about 3 mole are herein disclosed. The bacteria are halophilic or halophilic and alkalophilic and can be used as the microorganisms which play a central role in the methods of methane fermentation to enhance the efficiency of such a method since the use of the microorganism makes it possible to carry out the method at an alkaline pH, in the presence of salts in a high concentration and at a low temperature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of using a biologically pure culture of Methanohalococcus alcaliphilum having an optimum growth sodium chloride concentration of from about 2.5M to about 3.0M and an optimum growth pH ranging from about 8.0 to about 8.5, and having methane production activity up to pH's of at least about pH 8.5, to produce methane, comprising culturing said culture of Methanohalococcus alcaliphilum in an anaerobic medium for a time sufficient to produce methane.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said Methanohalococcus alcaliphilum has the identifying characteristics of NY-218.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said Methanohalococcus alcaliphilum has the identifying characteristics of NY-844.