GB1088717A - A process for increasing the production of chemical substances made by microorganisms - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for increasing the rate of production of oxygenated derivatives of aliphatic hydrocarbons such as aldehydes, ketones, acids and esters, made by a species of the genera Achromobacter and Nocardia when grown upon an aliphatic hydrocarbon as the sole source of carbon for energy and growth, comprises incubating the micro-organism in an aqueous urea-containing mineral salts medium in the presence of oxygen and the aliphatic hydrocarbon and in the presence of a non-ionic surface active agent, thereby growing the micro-organism at a rate substantially greater than that of a like incubation mixture but (1) which does not contain the surface active agent or (2) which does not contain the urea, and recovering the oxygenated aliphatic hydrocarbon derivatives formed by the micro-organism. The non-ionic surface active agent may be added to a worked incubation mixture (including the urea) to stimulate further growth. The aqueous mineral salts medium contains 0.015-10% by weight of urea and 0.001-5% of the non-ionic surface active agent, and should preferably include also 0.01-10% of a water-soluble ammonium salt such as ammonium sulphate. The aliphatic hydrocarbon may be a saturated or unsaturated, straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon having up to 20 to 30 or more carbon atoms particularly n-decane and n-butane. Liquid hydrocarbons are preferred. The non-ionic agent may be a fatty acid ester whose acid moiety has 12 to 18 carbon atoms formed from a polyol and a fatty acid, a fatty acid derivative formed by reaction of a fatty acid and ethylene oxide, a fatty amide derivative having an oxygenated side chain of hydrophilic character, a fatty alcohol derivative made by reacting a fatty alcohol having at least 8 carbons with ethylene oxide, a polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ether, polyoxyethylene glycols of which many are particularly mentioned, and also a specified proprietary product. According to certain control experiments disclosed, the non-ionic surface active agent was replaced by specified anionic or cationic surface active agents. A solid crystalline urea-normal alkane inclusion complex wherein the alkane has at least 6 carbon atoms, may provide the source of urea and aliphatic hydrocarbon. About 6 moles of urea per mole of n-alkane are required when the latter has 7 carbons and about 21 moles of urea per mole of n-alkane when the latter contains about 28 carbons. The alkane fills the interstices normally present in urea crystals to form the complex and on placing in water the urea dissolves, releasing the alkane. The inclusion complex is obtained in the dewaxing of lubricating oils. The cells or the entire culture medium may be utilized for cattle feed.ALSO:A process for increasing the rate of production of oxygenated derivatives of aliphatic hydrocarbons such as aldehydes, ketones, acids and esters, made by a species of the genera Achromabacter and Norcardia when grown upon an aliphatic hydrocarbon as the sole source of carbon for energy and growth, comprises incubating the micro-organism in an aqueous urea-containing mineral salts medium in the presence of oxygen and the aliphatic hydrocarbon and in the presence of a non-ionic surface active agent, thereby growing the micro-organism at a rate substantially greater than that of a like incubation mixture but (1) which does not contain the surface active agent or (2) which does not contain the urea, and recovering the oxygenated aliphatic hydrocarbon derivatives formed by the micro-organism. The non-ionic surface active agent may be added to a worked incubation mixture (including the urea) to stimulate further growth. The aqueous mineral salts medium contains 0.015-10% by weight of urea and 0.001-5% of the non-ionic surface active agent, and should preferably include also 0.01-10% of a water-soluble ammonium salt such as ammonium sulphate. The aliphatic hydrocarbon may be a saturated or unsaturated, straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon having up to 20 to 30 or more carbon atoms particularly h-decane and h-butane. Liquid hydrocarbons are preferred. The non-ionic agent may be a fatty acid ester whose acid moiety has 12 to 18 carbon atoms formed from a polyol and a fatty acid, a fatty acid derivative formed by reaction of a fatty acid and ethylene oxide, a fatty amide derivative having an oxygenated side chain of hydrophilic character, a fatty alcohol derivative made by reacting a fatty alcohol having at least 8 carbons with ethylene oxide, a polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ether, polyoxyethylene glycols of which many are particularly mentioned, and also a specified proprietary product. According to certain control experiments disclosed, the non-ionic surface active agent was replaced by specified anionic or cationic surface active agents. A solid crystalline urea-normal alkane inclusion complex wherein the alkane has at least 6 carbon atoms, may provide the source of urea and aliphatic hydrocarbon. About 6 moles of urea per mole of h-alkane are required when the latter has 7 carbons and about 21 moles of urea per mole of h-alkane when the latter contains about 28 carbons. The alkane fills the interstices normally present in urea crystals to form the complex and on placing in water the urea dissolves, releasing the alkane. The inclusion complex is obtained in the dewaxing of lubricating oils. The cells or the entire culture medium may be utilized for cattle feed.