Abstract: The present invention is a method and the microorganism and enzyme used therein to degrade the Xanthan molecule. The microorganism is a soil bacterium, Bacillus sp. The method includes using the mixed culture, or a supernatant derived therefrom or the purified enzyme itself.

Abstract: Disclosed are newly discovered and isolated methylotrophic microorganism strains and their natural and/or artificial mutants which grow well under aerobic conditions in a culture medium in the presence of methane as the major carbon and energy source. The methane-grown microbial cells possess a high content of protein and can be utilized as such as feedstuffs. The methane-grown microbial cells or enzyme preparations thereof are also useful in converting C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanes to alcohols, particularly methane to methanol, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkanes to the corresponding C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 sec. alcohols and methyl ketones, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 sec. alcohols to the corresponding methyl ketones, cyclic hydrocarbons to cyclic hydrocarbyl alcohols (e.g., cyclohexane to cyclohexanol) C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenes selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butene-1 and butadiene to 1,2-epoxides, styrene to styrene oxide, and converting other oxidizable substrates to oxidized products.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the epoxidation of lower .alpha.-olefins dienes or vinyl aromatic compounds by contacting said compounds, under aerobic conditions in the presence of microorganisms, genetically engineered organisms thereof or enzyme preparations derived from said microorganisms. The microorganisms, genetically engineered organisms, or enzyme preparations derived therefrom are preferably those microorganisms which are known as methylotrophs particularly those which have previously grown under aerobic conditions in a nutrient medium containing methane.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the microbiological epoxidation of C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 n-alkenes, dienes and vinyl aromatic compounds by contacting, under aerobic conditions, in an aqueous medium containing microorganisms or enzyme preparations derived therefrom, wherein the microorganisms have been aerobically cultivated in a nutrient medium containing methane. The microorganisms used are newly isolated methane-utilizing obligate and facultative methylotrophs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the microbiological oxidation of C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanes and cycloalkanes by contacting said C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanes or cycloalkanes, under aerobic conditions, in the presence of microorganisms or enzyme preparations derived therefrom, wherein said microorganisms have been aerobically grown in a nutrient containing methane. The microorganisms are newly isolated obligative and facultative methylotrophs.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the microbiological production of ketones from C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkanes by contacting C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkanes under aerobic conditions with resting microbial cells derived from a methylotrophic microorganism or enzyme preparation derived from said cells, wherein the microorganism has been previously grown under aerobic conditions in a nutrient medium containing methane or dimethyl ether.

Abstract: Disclosed are newly discovered and isolated methylotrophic microorganism strains and their natural and/or artificial mutants which grow well under aerobic conditions in a culture medium in the presence of methane as the major carbon and energy source. The methane-grown microbial cells possess a high content of protein and can be utilized as such as feedstuffs. The methane-grown microbial cells or enzyme preparations thereof are also useful in converting C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanes to alcohols, particularly methane to methanol, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkanes to the corresponding C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 sec. alcohols and methyl ketones, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 sec. alcohols to the corresponding methyl ketones, cyclic hydrocarbons to cyclic hydrocarbyl alcohols (e.g., cyclohexane to cyclohexanol) C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenes selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butene-1 and butadiene to 1,2-epoxides, styrene to styrene oxide, and converting other oxidizable substrates to oxidized products.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the microbiological production of ketones from C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 secondary alcohols by contacting C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 secondary alcohols under aerobic conditions with resting microbial cells derived from a microorganism of enzyme preparation derived from said cells, wherein the microorganism has been previously grown under aerobic conditions in a nutrient medium containing a methyl-radical donating compound. Typical methyl-radical donating compounds are: methane, methanol, dimethyl ether, methylamine, methyl formate, methyl carbonate, ethanol, propanol, butanol, etc. Isolation and purification of a novel C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 secondary alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a newly-discovered and isolated enzyme which is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD.sup.+)-linked C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 secondary alcohol-specific dehydrogenase. This enzyme, in the presence of oxygen and NAD, is capable of converting C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 secondary alcohols to the corresponding methyl ketones. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of 95,000 .+-. 3,000 dalton as determined by acrylamide gel electrophoresis and contains two zinc atoms per molecule of protein. Primary alcohols are not oxidized by this enzyme.