US3941692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cleaning of cargo compartments
Assignee: EMULSAN BIOTECHNOLOGIES Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1975-01-10
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Granted: 1976-03-02
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Expires: 1995-01-10
Abstract
Abstract Oil is removed from sea water, for example, in the cleaning of tanks of oil transport ships, by utilizing bacteria or cell-free solutions from such bacteria in a confined space with the addition of a source of nitrogen and a source of phosphorus, under aerated conditions. The resultant microbial fermentation converts the oil to protein-containing by-products making it possible to discharge the contents of the tanks without oil contamination and, if desired, to recover useful by-products.
Inventors
- 👤 David Gutnick
- 👤 Eugene Rosenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:25
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/26; C12N1/28; B; B08; B08B; B08B7/00; B08B9/00; B08B9/08; B63; B63B; B63B57/00; B63B57/02; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/34; C02F3/344; C12N1/20; C12N1/205; C12P; C12P1/00; C12P1/04; C12R; C12R2001/00; C12R2001/01; C12R2001/06; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A process for removing oil from sea water in ship compartments which comprises adding to oil-containing sea water in a ship compartment a microbial organism, a source of nitrogen and a source of phosphorus and converting the resultant mixture to a non-oily form with said microbial organism or the products of said microbial organism under aerobic conditions in said ship compartment, said microbial organism being the microbial organism herein defined at RAG-1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process for removing oil from sea water in ship compartments which comprises adding to oil-containing sea water in a ship compartment a microbial organism, a source of nitrogen and a source of phosphorus and converting the resultant mixture to a non-oily form with said microbial organism or the products of said microbial organism under aerobic conditions in said ship compartment, said microbial organism being the microbial organism herein defined at RAG-1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conversion is effected with a cell-free solution which is a product of said microbial organism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein aeration is effected by bubbling through a stream of air.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the source of nitrogen is urea, ammonia, a nitrate or an ammonium salt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the source of phosphorus is a water soluble inorganic phosphate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein by products are recovered from the resultant converted mixture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-02 | 1979-09-01 | 1980-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-02 | 1983-09-01 | 1984-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-02 | 1987-09-01 | 1988-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |