The present invention has an object of providing a modified lipase having excellent stability and reactivity at a high temperature. Provided is a modified lipase with improved reactivity and/or stability at a high temperature, the modified lipase having an amino acid sequence including one or more amino acid substitutions which are selected from the group consisting of T130C-S153C, A249P, F259Y, S282P, S283Y and S300P in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or an amino acid sequence having 90% or more sequence identity therewith.

Fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member are provided. Recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins are also provided. Genetically inactivated Bacillus cereus family members and recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that overexpress exosporium proteins are also provided. Seeds coated with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members and methods for using the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided. Various modifications of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that express the fusion proteins are further provided. Fusion proteins comprising a spore coat protein and a protein or peptide of interest, recombinant bacteria that express such fusion proteins, seeds coated with such recombinant bacteria, and methods for using such recombinant bacteria (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided.

A system for use with contaminated land comprises: a region defined by or within the land, the region having a plurality of locations defined therewithin; at each location, one or more apparatus selected from the group comprising: sensor, well, electrode, cathode, injector and vent; an array of photovoltaic cells for producing DC power; a ground-mounted frame supporting the array, the frame having a boundary substantially contiguous with the region and supporting the photovoltaic cells; a fluid distribution system of conduits supported by the frame; a power system for delivering DC power to each of the locations; and a communication system adapted to provide for remote control of the apparatus.

A material for reducing the content of polluting and/or unwanted substances in a liquid includes at least one polymeric and/or inorganic base, suitable to be immersed in the liquid, having at least a surface, whereto is bonded at least one catalyst of the degradation reaction of inorganic salts in gaseous substances. The catalyst, whose function is to reduce the energy required for the activation of said reaction and to accelerate its progress, is an enzyme preferably selected among the lyase group, the hydrolase group and the oxidoreductase group.

Provided herein are compositions and methods that can remove, metabolize, or degrade a hydrocarbon in an area that is contaminated by hydrocarbons. Methods for bioremediation of an area such as an area of land, a body of water, or a shoreline that are contaminated by a hydrocarbon, such as from a crude oil spill are also described. The compositions and methods described herein can be used on natural flora and fauna as well as manmade materials that are contaminated by a hydrocarbon.

A hierarchical catalyst composition comprising a continuous or particulate macroporous scaffold in which is incorporated mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles, wherein an enzyme is embedded in mesopores of the mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles. Methods for synthesizing the hierarchical catalyst composition are also described. Also described are processes that use the recoverable hierarchical catalyst composition for depolymerizing lignin remediation of water contaminated with aromatic substances, polymerizing monomers by a free-radical mechanism, epoxidation of alkenes, halogenation of phenols, inhibiting growth and function of microorganisms in a solution, and carbon dioxide conversion to methanol. Further described are methods for increasing the space time yield and/or total turnover number of a liquid-phase chemical reaction that includes magnetic particles to facilitate the chemical reaction, the method comprising subjecting the chemical reaction to a plurality of magnetic fields of selected magnetic strength, relative position in the chemical reaction, and relative motion.

The invention relates to a fluidic purifying device designed to clean a fluid of at least one pollutant, comprising a fluidic purification network, characterized in that the fluidic purification network comprises a plurality of microfluidic channels, each microfluidic channel being defined by one or more fluidttight walls, each microfluidic channel comprising at least one zone on the interior surface of said microfluidic channel that exhibits at least one autonomous purifying agent and each microfluidic channel exhibiting, in such a zone, a height less than 60 m in a direction normal to the main direction of flow of the fluid, the purifying agent or agents, and the sizing of said zones, being configured in such a way as to allow at least 10% of the pollutants to be captured and/or broken down by said zones, for at least one flow rate of the fluid that is to be purified.

In one aspect, oxidant is employed for enhancing Feammox activity. Briefly, a medium comprises an ammonium containing contaminant, an iron component, an oxidant, and a Feammox bacterium and/or enzyme thereof capable of oxidizing ammonium with reduction of Fe(II) to Fe(III), wherein the oxidant regenerates Fe(III) via Fe(II) oxidation. In some embodiments, the medium is soil and/or water.

The present invention provides crude enzyme extracts, cocktails and compositions from Alkanivorax borkumensis and methods for the enzymatic treatment and bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon polluted ecosystems.

A system for use with contaminated land comprises: a region defined by or within the land, the region having a plurality of locations defined therewithin; at each location, one or more apparatus selected from the group comprising: sensor, well, electrode, cathode, injector and vent; an array of photovoltaic cells for producing DC power; a ground-mounted frame supporting the array, the frame having a boundary substantially contiguous with the region and supporting the photovoltaic cells; a fluid distribution system of conduits supported by the frame; a power system for delivering DC power to each of the locations; and a communication system adapted to provide for remote control of the apparatus.