Rapid degradation of halogenated hydrocarbons by soluble methane monooxygenase

A method of degrading a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon compound, said method comprising:

• (a) culturing a methane-oxidizing bacterium under continuous culture conditions comprising exposing said bacterium to a continuous-flow gas mixture comprising air and methane in a ratio of about 25:1-1:20, respectively, the continuously cultured methane-oxidizing bacterium producing a soluble methane monooxygenase in an amount from about 5-30% of the weight of dry bacterium cells;
• (b) separating said soluble methane monooxygenase from the continuously cultured methane-oxidizing bacterium;
• (c) purifying the separated soluble methane monooxygenase to yield purified components comprising reductase, component B, and hydroxylase;
• (d) adding each of said purified components to an aqueous mixture of said halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon compound to form a second mixture;
• the amount of each of said purified components, when combined with the other two components in said second mixture, being effective to completely degrade said halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon compound;
• and
• (e) reacting said second mixture under conditions and for a period of time sufficient for said purified components to completely degrade said halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon compound.