METHOD, COMPOUND AND COMPOSITION FOR EFFECTING DEGRADATION OF CRUDE PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN AN ENVIRONMENT

摘要

A method, compound and composition for degrading crude petroleum and petroleum products in any environment. Crude petroleum or petroleum products are contacted with an effective amount of a novel fungus, Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov. (including its cultural derivatives and mutants), or the enzymatic active principle compound produced by said fungus, cultural derivatives or mutants, which degrade and metabolize the hydrocarbon constituents of the petroleum material. The compound and composition include a biologically pure culture of the novel fungus Geotrichum marinum Thirumalachar sp nov., having the identifying characteristics of ATCC 20614, the enzymatic active principle compounds of Geotrichum marinum, and compositions of the fungus and enzymatic compound with a carrier medium.