Abstract: The invention relates to novel microorganisms, their use and method of producing L-.alpha.-amino acids. In particular, microorganisms DSM 7329 and 7330 are suitable for the production of L-.alpha.-amino acids from corresponding hydantoins or carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acids. These novel microorganisms are simple to cultivate and make possible high L-.alpha.-amino acid yields from different substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to glucose- and sophorose-lipids of the formula I ##STR1## in which R.sup.4 is --OH or a group of the formula II, ##STR2## n is an integer from 2 to 26, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, independently of one another, H or ##STR3## R.sup.3 is H or --OH in the case where R.sup.4 is --OH, and is H or --OH or a group of the formula III, ##STR4## in the case where R.sup.4 is a group of the formula II, to a process for obtaining them by fermentation, and to their use as surfactants.

Abstract: DSM 9771 is a mutant of DSM 7330 which was obtained under selective pressure. Its enzymatic activity is higher by a factor of 2.3 than that of its parent organism. In the presence of an inducer, this activity may be farther increased by a factor of 2.7. The reaction catalyzed by this microorganism or enzymes therefrom is the enantioselective conversion of a D-5-monosubstituted hydantoin or an L-5-monosubstituted hydantoin or a D-N-carbamoyl amino acid or an L-N-carbamoyl amino acid to a corresponding L-.alpha.-amino acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel microorganisms, their use and method of producing L-.alpha.-amino acids. In particular, microorganisms DSM 7329 and 7330 are suitable for the production of L-.alpha.-amino acids from corresponding hydantoins or carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acids. These novel microorganisms are simple to cultivate and make possible high L-.alpha.-amino acid yields from different substrates.

Abstract: A method for the racemization of 5-monosubstituted hydantoins, in which a 5-monosubstituted hydantoin is reacted in the presence of an ion exchanger. Anion exchangers at a pH between 6.0 and 13.5 are preferred.

Abstract: The microbial decontamination of soils contaminated with hydrocarbons, in particular with mineral oils, by microbial oxidation is improved by a process in which in addition to supplying the oxygen necessary for degradation, by aeration, soluble nutrients, water and soluble or dispersed biosurfactants as such or mixed with chemical surfactants are metered into the contaminated soils directly or into the removed contaminated soil layers, in one or more batches at time intervals, in an amount such that the formation of toxic intermediates which slow down or block microbial degradation in prevented, the accessibility of mineral oils and their products for the microorganisms is simultaneously increased and, as a result, accelerated, virtually complete mineralization by respiration to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O is effected.

Abstract: Microorganisms with the ability to cleave enantioselectively 5-substituted hydantoins to L-alpha-amino acids are cultivated in a known manner in a batch preparation. By one-time dosage of anondegradable enzyme inductor of the structure ##STR1## (where R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and X are specifically defined) an increased enzyme activity combined with an increased reaction rate is achieved.

Abstract: Solid particles of various sizes are separated from viscous liquids, for example biomass from liquids of biotechnological processes, by pressure filtration by subjecting the inhomogeneous or homogenized suspension, without or after only a little dilution, to a pressure filtration whereby the solid particles of various sizes are retained according to size in a plurality of, in particular in from 1 to 3, superposed or juxtaposed filter stages on filter layers of various depths and on filter surfaces and are separated from the viscous liquid.

Abstract: Rhamnolipids with high surface activity are produced micro iologically in high yield per g of dry cell substance using Pseudomonas spec. DSM 2874 in the form of growing, resting and immobilized cell mass in an aqueous medium containing at least one assimilable carbon source at a pH of 6.7 to 7.3 and a temperature of 30.degree. to 37.degree. C. Two new rhamnolipids with only one .beta.-hydroxydecanoic acid residue in the molecule and defined as .alpha.-L-rhamnopyranosyl- and 2-O-.alpha.-L-rhamnopyranosyl-.alpha.-L-rhamnopyranosyl-.beta.-hydroxydeca noic acid with a molecular weight of 334 and 480, respectively, are obtained.

Abstract: Anionic, surface-active trehalose lipids, in which different organic acids are bound to a trehalose molecule by an ester linkage, are prepared by aerobically cultivating trehalose-producing microorganisms, capable of assimilating hydrocarbons, under growth-limiting conditions, but without limiting the oxygen.

Abstract: Oil polluted water or solid adsorbents are treated with microbially produced glycolipids to separate the oil phase. The treatment may be carried out in an apparatus which can be taken to the site and which comprises a mixing vessel supported by an undercarriage and provided with a storage container to supply the glycolipids, filling means, overflow discharge means and outlet means at its base.

Abstract: A water valve with a hollow piston axially reciprocable in a cylindrical bore of a surrounding sleeve is provided, for long-term lubrication of the piston, with grease chambers formed as inwardly open peripheral recesses on the inner sleeve surfaces at opposite extremities thereof. The valve is preferably of the single-handle mixing type, the piston being rotatable within the sleeve for selectively connecting a cold-water inlet and/or a hot-water inlet with a common outlet; the region of water flow between these ports is isolated by sealing rings from the two grease chambers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining solid cyanuric chloride from the cyanuric chloride vapor obtained by trimerizing cyanogen chloride by separating out in a separation chamber, wherein cyanuric chloride vapor and cold air are introduced into the separation chamber through obliquely upwardly directed inlets in such a manner that an intensive mixing up of the cyanuric chloride vapor with the cold air takes place after emergence from the inlet pipes, the cyanuric chloride-free waste gases are withdrawn from the upper part of the separation chamber and the solid cyanuric chloride is removed from the lower part of the separation chamber.

Abstract: A method and process for preventing the penetration and/or adhesion of hydrocarbons such as crude oil or mineral oil-hydrocarbons into or respectively on objects. The natural and/or constructed objects are sprayed with an aqueous solution and/or dispersion of glycolipids resulting in a thin layer covering the object. A hydrocarbon composition can contact the sprayed object and the resulting hydrocarbon; containing mass can be removed with a pressurized water jet. Various ways exist for degrading or separating the hydrocarbons from the run-off. Preferably the aqueous solution and/or dispersion is treated with ultrasonics before being applied to the surfaces of the objects.

Abstract: A process for extracting crude oil from tar sands and clay-like materials. This is accomplished by adding a mixture of a trahalose lipid with water to the tar sands and subjecting the mixture to intensive agitation at 60.degree.-90.degree. C. to form a slurry and separating the slurry to recover a crude oil/water mixture.

Abstract: Oils or petroleum hydrocarbons are separated from solid or solid/liquid mixtures thereof with soil, sand or oil processing residues, by treating these oil-containing mixtures with an aqueous solution or dispersion of a crude extract of microbially produced glycolipids and separating the oil-containing phase from the aqueous phase.

Abstract: Oil polluted water or solid adsorbents are treated with microbially produced glycolipids to separate the oil phase. The treatment may be carried out in an apparatus which can be taken to the site and which comprises a mixing vessel supported by an undercarriage and provided with a storage container to supply the glycolipids, filling means, overflow discharge means and outlet means at its base.

Abstract: Immobilized enzymatically-active substance is prepared by forming a combination of an enzymatically-active substance and an aqueous polyelectrolyte solution containing a substantial amount of alginate, adding the combination to an aqueous precipitation both containing a source of multivalent ion to form beads of gel containing the enzymatically-active substance, drying the gel beads under controlled conditions to significantly reduce the diameter of the beads and cause hardening of the beads to provide increased mechanical strength, and adding the dried beads to a precipitation both containing a multivalent ion to effect further hardening of the beads. The combination of enzymatically active substance and polyelectrolyte solution may contain an epoxy prepolymer. After further hardening in the polyelectrolyte solution, the beads may be suspended in a buffer solution to dissolve the polyelectrolyte and form porous beads.

Abstract: Process for the production of cyanuric chloride mixtures in which the cyanuric chloride is resistant to agglomeration during storage and handling and is resistant to undesirable hydrolysis, without reducing the reactivity of the cyanuric chloride with respect to organic reactants. The present mixtures contain cyanuric chloride and a minor amount by weight of a finely divided, inert, hydrophobic filler material to form a new, homogeneous, particulate cyanuric chloride composition in which the cyanuric chloride particles are surrounded by the inert filler particles.

Abstract: A process and installation for the flooding of petroleum deposits and oil shale and, more particularly, through the use of dispersions of non-ionogenic, boundary surface-active materials in water as the flooding medium. For the flooding of petroleum-hydrocarbon materials from petroleum deposits and oil shale there can be utilized dispersions of non-ionogenic, boundary surface-active glycolipids, and such preferred structures can be employed which are produced from hydrocarbon mixtures as the C-source. This is effected in two stages with predetermined technological measures. In the first stage, there are initially produced glycolipids through microorganisms with alkane mixtures under predetermined parameters in semi- or continual process cycles and, in the second stage, separated from the cellular material through temperature, pH, osmotic shock. The formed glycolipids can also be separated from the cellular material with unpolarized, organic solvent media.