Gram-positive fatty acid degrader

Abstract

The invention discloses a Gram-positive microorganism, Bacillus megaterium , that effectively and efficiently degrades fats, oils and grease. A composition comprising said microorganism and a method for degrading fatty acids and grease are also disclosed.

1 .  Bacillus megaterium  strain SB-3112, having the characteristics of ATCC deposit number PTA-3142.  
     
     
         2 . A composition comprising  Bacillus megaterium  strain SB-3112 having the characteristics of ATCC deposit number PTA-3142.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising additional species of microorganisms.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein additional species of microorganisms is selected from the group consisting of genera:  Acinetobacter, Aspergillus, Azospirillum, Burkholderia, Bacillus, Ceriporiopsis, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Lactobacillus, Paenebacillus, Paracoccus, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Syphingomonas, Streptococcus, Thiobacillus, Trichoderma, and    Xanthomonas.    
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said microorganism is selected from the group consisting of  Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyoliquofaciens, Bacillus laevolacticus, Bacillus pasteurii  and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 4 , additionally comprising components selected from the group consisting of a non-toxic nutrient formulation, surfactant, activator, preservative, stabilizer, fragrance, viscosifier and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said activator is glycerol.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein said preservative is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one; 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; quaternium-15; phenol; sodium o-phenylphenate; o-phenylphenol; 6-acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-m-dioxane; tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane; hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine; chlorhexidine; p-hydroxybenzoic acid or its methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl esters; benzoic, ascorbic, citric, or sorbic acid; imidazolidinyl urea; diazolidinyl urea; dimethylol dimethylhydantoin; methylene bisthiocyanate; 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol; 1,2-benzisothiazoline-3-one; methyl anthranilate, and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein said preservative is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one and methyl anthranilate.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of trideceth-3; 3 mole ethylene oxide adduct of a linear, primary C12-14 alcohol; 7 mole ethylene oxide adduct of a linear, primary C12-14 alcohol; sodium lauryl sulfate; ammonium lauryl sulfate; dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid; ammonium lauryl sulfate; sodium xylene sulfonate; sodium lauryl sulfate; cocamide diethanolamine; lauramine oxide; sodium alphasulfo methyl C12-18 ester and disodium alphasulfo C12-18 fatty acid salt; soduim dodecylbenzene sulfonate; alkyl polyglycoside; nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol, branched; nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol, branched; alkoxylated linear alcohol; blend of ethoxylates of linear, primary 12-14 carbon number alcohol; octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol absorbed on magnesium carbonate; sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate and isopropyl alcohol; poe (6) tridecyl alcohol; poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha (nonylphenyl)-omega hydroxy, branched, and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the components in are as follows: 
 (i) SB3112 ranging from about 1×10 5  to about 1×10 9  CFU/ml    (ii) glycerol ranging from about 0.01% to about 10%    (iii) surfactant ranging from 0.1 to 10%    (iv) preservative ranging from 1 ppm to 1.0%    (v) color ranging from 0.02% to 1%    (vi) fragrance ranging from 0.02% to 1.0%    (vii) viscosifier ranging from 0.05% to 5%;    all percentages being v/v.    
     
     
         12 . A method for degrading fatty acid or grease, comprising exposing fatty acid, grease, or fatty acid and grease to a composition comprising  Bacillus megaterium  strain SB-3112 having the characteristics of ATCC deposit number PTA-3142.  
     
     
         13 . The method of claim. 12, adding a biodegrading activator to the composition.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said activator is glycerol in a range of about 0.0% to about 10% (v/v).  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , adding a surfactant to the mixture to enhance bioavailability of fatty acids and grease.