Abstract: Bioavailability of lead and other heavy metals in the environment may be reduced by addition of microorganisms which sequester lead from the environment in the presence of phosphate. The microorganisms are highly mobile and are, therefore, capable of scavenging a material for lead, which they then sequester. The method basically consists of reducing bioavailability of lead in the environment by addition of Pseudomonas aeroginosa strain CHL004 to said environment in the presence of phosphate which contains at least stoichiometric equivalent amounts of phosphate to lead.

Abstract: Bioavailability of lead and other heavy metals in the environment may be reduced by addition of microorganisms which sequester lead from the environment in the presence of phosphate. The microorganisms are highly mobile and are, therefore, capable of scavenging a material for lead, which they then sequester. The method basically consists of reducing bioavailability of lead in the environment by addition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain CHL004 (ATCC 55937) to said environment in the presence of phosphate which contains at least stoichiometric equivalent amounts of phosphate to lead.

Abstract: The invention is a consortium of thermophilic methanotrophic organisms in culture medium containing said consortium reproduced at temperatures of 50.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., said consortium being comprised primarily of ovoid or rod-shaped organisms. The consortium can be instilled into soil or water to degrade pollutants, especially hydrocarbons and substituted hydrocarbons.

Abstract: An effective bath for plating platinum or platinum alloys contains a complexed platinum (II) salt in which the anion component is a group or radical derived from an organic acid or inorganic acid other than a hydrohalic acid, in alkaline aqueous solution. The bath is more efficient and stable than known baths and permits good plating deposits to be achieved.