SBIR Phase I: Improved Biocatalyst for Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Degradation

* 9760044斯蒂芬 这个为期6个月的第一阶段SBIR项目涉及开发改进的生物催化剂，用于破坏汽油含氧化合物，如甲基叔丁基醚（MTBE），乙基叔丁基醚（ETBE）和叔戊基甲基醚（驯服）。 自1970年后期以来，美国在汽油中添加了诸如MTBE的含氧化合物，以取代铅和其他有毒成分。 目前，甲基叔丁基醚在美国生产的有机化学品中排名第二，每年生产超过240亿磅，已成为城市地下水最常见的污染物之一。 最近对地下水污染的担忧导致一些州将地下水中允许的最大MTBE水平降低到100 ppb。 解决MTBE生物降解的少数研究取得了非常有限的成功，从而得出结论，MTBE是生物降解的障碍。 然而，Envirogen最近的研究已经确定了一类可以生物降解MTBE的微生物，但不能将其用作生长基质。 拟议工作的目标是利用现代分子生物学技术，利用迄今为止收集的知识，开发一种可以在MTBE上生长的生物体，作为碳和能量的唯一来源。 该项目开发的技术将适用于销毁各种废水中的汽油含氧化合物，包括地下水补救和管道末端处理。 最初，该技术将部署在封闭的生物反应器中，并最终在现场证明生物催化剂的安全性。 超过300，000个泄漏的汽油储罐已向监管机构报告，其中许多地点含有受MTBE污染的地下水。 由于缺乏甲基叔丁基醚的替代补救办法，因此拟议的工作具有重要的商业意义。 ***

*** 9760044 Steffan This 6 month Phase I SBIR project involves the development of improved biocatalysts for destroying gasoline oxygenates such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert butyl ether (ETBE), and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME). Oxygenates such as MTBE have been added to gasoline in the United States since the late 1970@, to replace lead and other toxic components. Currently, MTBE is second on the list of organic chemicals produced in the United States with greater than 24 billion pounds produced annually, and it has become one of the most common contaminants of urban groundwaters. Recent concern over groundwater contamination has led some states to reduce their allowable maximum levels of MTBE in groundwater to 100 ppb. The few studies that have addressed MTBE biodegradation have met with very limited success, thereby leading to the conclusion that MTBE is recalcitrant to biodegradation. Recent studies by Envirogen, however, have identified a class of microorganisms that can biodegrade MTBE, but can not use it as a growth substrate. The goal of the proposed work is to use modern molecular biological techniques to exploit knowledge gathered to date to develop an organisms that can grow on MTBE as a sole source of carbon and energy. The technology developed during this project will be applicable for destroying gasoline oxygenates in a variety of wastewaters including groundwater remediation and end-of-pipe treatment. Initially, the technology will be deployed in contained bioreactors, and eventually, upon deomonstrating the safety of the biocatalysts, in situ. More than 300,000 leaking gasoline storage tanks have been reported to regulatory agencies, and many of these sites contain MTBE-contaminated groundwater. The lack of alternative remediation alternatives for MTBE makes the proposed work commercially significant. ***