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Chemotactic selection of pollutant degrading soil bacteria

Patent ·
OSTI ID:869371
 [1]
  1. Augusta, GA
+ Show Author Affiliations
A method for identifying soil microbial strains which may be bacterial degraders of pollutants comprising the steps of placing a concentration of a pollutant in a substantially closed container, placing the container in a sample of soil for a period of time ranging from one minute to several hours, retrieving the container, collecting the contents of the container, and microscopically determining the identity of the bacteria present. Different concentrations of the pollutant can be used to determine which bacteria respond to each concentration. The method can be used for characterizing a polluted site or for looking for naturally occurring biological degraders of the pollutant. Then bacteria identified as degraders of the pollutant and as chemotactically attracted to the pollutant are used to inoculate contaminated soil. To enhance the effect of the bacteria on the pollutant, nutrients are cyclicly provided to the bacteria then withheld to alternately build up the size of the bacterial colony or community and then allow it to degrade the pollutant.
Research Organization:
WESTINGHOUSE SAVANNAH RIVER CO
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-89SR18035;
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Number(s):
US 5324661
OSTI ID:
869371
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

Measurement of bacterial random motility and chemotaxis coefficients: II. Application of single-cell-based mathematical model journal March 1991
Engineering concepts for in situ bioremediation journal September 1991

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