Process for the degradation of coal tar and its constituents by white rot fungi
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 white rot fungi placed in contact with the pollutant in the presence of hydrogen peroxide; and
b) allowing the degradation reaction to proceed until the pollutant is convened to less toxic degradation products.
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Abstract
A method for degrading coal tar, coal tar distillation fractions, and organic compounds, specially 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 white rot fungi to degrade lignin. The degradation reaction occurs in part by means of a lignin degrading enzyme and hydrogen peroxide, both produced by white rot fungi.
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28 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 white rot fungi placed in contact with the pollutant in the presence of hydrogen peroxide; and b) allowing the degradation reaction to proceed until the pollutant is convened 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, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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22. 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 white rot fungi 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.
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Specification