Process for the degradation of coal tar and its constituents by Phanerochaete chrysosporium
First Claim
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1. A process for degrading degradation-resistant organic pollutants comprising the steps of:
- a. combining at least one degradation-resistant organic pollutant which is an aromatic hydrocarbon having three or more fused rings selected from the group consisting of coal tar, constituents of coal tar, distillation fractions of coal tar, and polycyclic aromatic organic compounds capable of being derived from coal tar or a constituent or distillation fraction thereof, with lignin-degrading fungal enzymes expressed by Phanerochaete chrysosporium placed in contact with the pollutant, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide; and
b. allowing a degradation reaction to proceed until the pollutant is converted to less toxic degradation products.
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Abstract
A method for degrading coal tar, coal tar distillation fractions, and organic compounds specifically those compounds having three or more fused rings, of the type often associated with coal tar, whether derived from coal tar or synthesized independently. According to the present invention degradation takes place by means of the nonspecific degradation reaction used by Phanerochaete chrysoporium to degrade lignin. The degradation reaction occurs in part by means of a lignin degrading enzyme and hydrogen peroxide, both produced by Phanerochaete chrysoporium.
13 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A process for degrading degradation-resistant organic pollutants comprising the steps of:
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a. combining at least one degradation-resistant organic pollutant which is an aromatic hydrocarbon having three or more fused rings selected from the group consisting of coal tar, constituents of coal tar, distillation fractions of coal tar, and polycyclic aromatic organic compounds capable of being derived from coal tar or a constituent or distillation fraction thereof, with lignin-degrading fungal enzymes expressed by Phanerochaete chrysosporium placed in contact with the pollutant, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide; and b. allowing a degradation reaction to proceed until the pollutant is converted to less toxic degradation products. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A process for degrading fused ring aromatic constituents of coal tar which comprises:
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a) providing a degradation resistant aromatic constituent of coal tar having three or more fused rings mixed with Phanerochaete chrysosporium expressing a lignin degrading peroxidase in a growth medium containing a minimal nitrogen source level under aerobic conditions; and b) degrading the fused ring aromatic constituent of coal tar to form less toxic degradation products. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification