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.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the separation and removal of carbon dioxide from a liquid, for example, seawater. The systems include an extraction system that collects carbon dioxide from the seawater through a medium, and removes carbon dioxide from the medium; the extraction systems comprising a reactor and a membrane. Alternatively, the extraction system includes a reactor, a membrane and a catalyst.

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.

The present invention relates to a method for degrading and inactivating at least one xenobiotic, the at least one xenobiotic being present in an aqueous medium. The method comprises the steps of (a) grafting at least one enzyme onto a solid support, (b) incubating the solid support with the at least one enzyme into the aqueous medium and (c) measuring the evolution of the concentration of the at least one xenobiotic. The method is remarkable in that the at least one enzyme is New-Dehli metallo-β-lactamase 1, a laccase extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus and/or a β-lactamase extracted from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in that the solid support is a moving bed carrier.

A water purification chamber is provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a purification chamber comprising a selective adsorbent activated carbon fiber fabric including one or more selective functional groups that bind arsenic.

This invention relates to a carrier for immobilizing a biocatalyst including a Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 yolk-shell structure, to an immobilized enzyme using the carrier, and to realizing an increase in the stability of the enzyme and stability in organic solvents by cross-linking the enzyme. According to this invention, the carrier for immobilizing a biocatalyst and the enzyme immobilized thereon can be reused, have increased stability, facilitate the control of reactivity, pH, and temperature, and can be widely useful in various biochemical engineering industries.

The invention proposes a process of in-line mineralisation of water according to which demineralised water is circulated in a pipe inside which enzymes are immobilised to catalyse the reaction of carbon dioxide and water to form bicarbonate, carbon dioxide is introduced into the pipe, and a pre-determined quantity of solid minerals, preferably magnesium and/or calcium carbonate, is introduced into the circulating water. The process enables to accelerate the dissolution of carbon dioxide in the water, which optimises the dissolution of minerals for in-line mineralisation of water, i.e. without stopping the circulation of water. The invention also proposes a system for implementing the process.

The present invention relates to compositions for encapsulation of biomaterials in a silica-matrix. The present invention includes a composition for formation of a silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterial. The composition includes a reactive silicon compound and a biomaterial with a catalytic activity. When encapsulated in the silica-matrix, the biomaterial at least partially retains its catalytic activity. The present invention also relates to methods of making silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials, and to methods of using silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials, including methods of treating water or gas using the silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials.

The present invention relates to novel polypeptides, or fragments of polypeptides, genes encoding them and means for producing said polypeptides. In detail the invention relates to polypeptides having esterase, suberinase and/or cutinase activity at low pH. This invention relates also to compositions containing the polypeptides and methods of using the polypeptides.

The invention relates to methods for enriching monomer content in a cycloalkane oxidation process mixed organic waste stream. In particular, the methods involve combining a biocatalyst with a mixed organic waste stream from a cycloalkane oxidation process, and enzymatically converting dimeric and/or oligomeric components of said waste stream into monomeric components. The methods may enrich the content of diacids, adipic acid, and/or other α,ω-difunctional C6 alkanes in the mixed organic waste stream. Additionally, the treated mixed organic waste streams may have improved burning efficiency.