Eric D Gilbert

US Patent:

59683600, Oct 19, 1999

Filed:

May 27, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/863455

Inventors:

David E. Crowley - Riverside CA
Dennis D. Focht - Riverside CA
Eric S. Gilbert - Riverside CA
Blanca S. Hernandez - Panama City, PA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

C02F 334
B09B 300

US Classification:

210611

Abstract:

Methods and compositions are disclosed for the microbial degradation of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) at a concentration of 100-200 mg/kg soil in contaminated environments, using natural, non-toxic, environmentally-acceptable compounds for application to such environments, such that PCB-contaminated environments are bioremediated by inducing a metabolic pathway in PCB-degrading microbes. Inoculated or indigenous PCB-degrading microbes, such as Arthrobacter strain B1B are induced to decontaminate the PCBs. Also disclosed are a plant and chemical screening assays for identifying plants that produce metabolites which promote PCB cometabolism. Further disclosed is a method for bioremediating PCB-contaminated environments in a commercially practical manner using l-carvone, a nontoxic and inexpensive chemical component of spearmint, for the in situ cleanup of PCB-contaminated soils, to induce Arthrobacter strain B1B to cometabolize and to substantially degrade PCBs.