US4263403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of extracting uranium from sea water
Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jülich
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Filing: 1979-03-29
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Granted: 1981-04-21
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Expires: 1999-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of producing a matrix of micro-organisms for extracting and gaining uranium from sea water, according to which the matrix is made of micro-organisms occurring in nature that are exposed to x-ray irradiations. These predetermined micro-organisms accordingly form colonies or threads and are filtered easily and cultivated. These micro-organisms accordingly form colonies or threads and are filtered easily and cultivated. These micro-organisms have a ratio of surface to volume that is relatively high. Subsequently, the thus irradiated micro-organisms are placed on a nutrient medium rich in uranium and are left there until colonies are formed. Thereupon, the surviving colonies of mutants are inoculated in a nutrient solution, and are then cultivated to produce the matrix.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Paschke
- 👤 Klaus Wagener
- 👤 Maximilian Wald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:38
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D59/00; B01D59/36; C; C22; C22B; C22B3/00; C22B3/18; C22B60/00; C22B60/02; C22B60/0204; C22B60/0217; C22B60/0252; C22B60/0256; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/902; Y10S210/911; Y10S210/912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A selective method of producing a matrix of cultivatable micro-organisms for extracting uranium from sea water, comprising in combination the process steps of: exposing micro-organisms to x-rays to form irradiated micro-organisms and mutants from individual cells of micro-organisms found in nature which are easily filtered and cultivated and having a ratio of surface to volume as large as possible and specifically micro-organisms that both form colonies and are filamentous, placing the thus irradiated micro-organisms upon a nutrient medium rich in uranium and leaving said micro-organisms thereon until surviving colonies of mutants form, inoculating the surviving colonies of mutants in a nutrient solution, and further cultivating the surviving colonies of mutants to thereby obtain a cell matrix of micro-organisms having stability of micro-organisms compared with uranium as well as capability thereof for taking up uranium, particularly those colonies and filament-forming micro-organisms being selected which are compatible with uranium and capable of taking up uranium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A selective method of producing a matrix of cultivatable micro-organisms for extracting uranium from sea water, comprising in combination the process steps of: exposing micro-organisms to x-rays to form irradiated micro-organisms and mutants from individual cells of micro-organisms found in nature which are easily filtered and cultivated and having a ratio of surface to volume as large as possible and specifically micro-organisms that both form colonies and are filamentous, placing the thus irradiated micro-organisms upon a nutrient medium rich in uranium and leaving said micro-organisms thereon until surviving colonies of mutants form, inoculating the surviving colonies of mutants in a nutrient solution, and further cultivating the surviving colonies of mutants to thereby obtain a cell matrix of micro-organisms having stability of micro-organisms compared with uranium as well as capability thereof for taking up uranium, particularly those colonies and filament-forming micro-organisms being selected which are compatible with uranium and capable of taking up uranium.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of producing a matrix of cultivatable micro-organisms for extracting uranium from sea water comprising in combination the process steps of: exposing micro-organisms to X-rays to form irradiated micro-organisms and mutants from individual cells of micro-organisms found in nature which are easily filtered and cultivated and having a ratio of surface to volume as large as possible and specifically micro-organisms that form colonies and are micro-organisms that form threads, placing the thus irradiated micro-organisms upon a nutrient medium rich in uranium and leaving said micro-organisms until surviving colonies of mutants form, inoculating the surviving colonies of mutants in a nutrient solution, and further cultivating the surviving colonies of mutants to thereby obtain a cell matrix of micro-organisms, and utilizing blue algae of the type oscillatoria found in nature as matrix micro-organisms.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of producing a matrix of cultivatable micro-organisms for extracting uranium from sea water comprising in combination the process steps of: exposing micro-organisms to X-rays to form irradiated micro-organisms and mutants from individual cells of micro-organisms found in nature which are easily filtered and cultivated and having a ratio of surface to volume as large as possible and specifically micro-organisms that form colonies and are micro-organisms that form threads, placing the thus irradiated micro-organisms upon a nutrient medium rich in uranium and leaving said micro-organisms until surviving colonies of mutants form, inoculating the surviving colonies of mutants in a nutrient solution, and further cultivating the surviving colonies of mutants to thereby obtain a cell matrix of micro-organisms, and utilizing blue algae of the type oscillatoria found in nature as matrix micro-organisms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2, which includes the step of prior to exposing said micro-organisms to X-rays forming individual cells from said micro-organisms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 2, which includes the steps of: placing the micro-organism matrix into a filter cage, and passing uranium-containing sea water through said matrix in the filter cage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 2, in which the predetermined micro-organisms found in nature are exposed to X-rays for a period of about one hour.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
A selective method of producing a matrix of cultivatable micro-organisms for extracting uranium from sea water, comprising the process steps of: exposing micro-organisms to X-rays to formm irradiated micro-organisms and mutants from individual cells of micro-organisms found in nature which are easily filtered and cultivated and having a ratio of surface to volume as large as possible and specifically selected from the group consisting of filamentous micro-organisms that form colonies, placing the thus irradiated micro-organisms upon a nutrient medium rich in uranium and leaving said micro-organisms thereon until surviving colonies of mutants form, inoculating the surviving colonies of mutants in a nutrient solution, further cultivating the surviving colonies of mutants to thereby obtain a cell matrix of micro-organisms, and utilizing blue algae of the type oscillatoria found in nature as matrix micro-organisms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A selective method of producing a matrix of cultivatable micro-organisms for extracting uranium from sea water, comprising the process steps of: exposing micro-organisms to X-rays to formm irradiated micro-organisms and mutants from individual cells of micro-organisms found in nature which are easily filtered and cultivated and having a ratio of surface to volume as large as possible and specifically selected from the group consisting of filamentous micro-organisms that form colonies, placing the thus irradiated micro-organisms upon a nutrient medium rich in uranium and leaving said micro-organisms thereon until surviving colonies of mutants form, inoculating the surviving colonies of mutants in a nutrient solution, further cultivating the surviving colonies of mutants to thereby obtain a cell matrix of micro-organisms, and utilizing blue algae of the type oscillatoria found in nature as matrix micro-organisms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 6, which includes the steps of: placing the micro-organism matrix into a filter cage, and passing uranium-containing sea water through said matrix contained in the filter cage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 6, in which the micro-organisms found in nature are exposed to X-rays for a period of about one hour.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a method of producing a matrix of cultivatable micro-organisms, with which these micro-organisms are irradiated by means of X-ray beams whereupon the irradiated micro-organisms are brought upon nutrient medium rich in uranium content and are left thereon until formation of colonies occurs followed by inoculating the surviving colonies of mutants in a nutrient solution, the improvement in combination therewith which comprises using micro-organisms having a ratio of surface to volume as large as possible and forming colonies and fibers as well as being easily filterable and cultivatable and also having stability of micro-organisms compared with uranium as well as capability thereof for taking up uranium, particularly those colonies and filament-forming micro-organisms being selected which are compatible with uranium and capable of taking up uranium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a method of producing a matrix of cultivatable micro-organisms, with which these micro-organisms are irradiated by means of X-ray beams whereupon the irradiated micro-organisms are brought upon nutrient medium rich in uranium content and are left thereon until formation of colonies occurs followed by inoculating the surviving colonies of mutants in a nutrient solution, the improvement in combination therewith which comprises using micro-organisms having a ratio of surface to volume as large as possible and forming colonies and fibers as well as being easily filterable and cultivatable and also having stability of micro-organisms compared with uranium as well as capability thereof for taking up uranium, particularly those colonies and filament-forming micro-organisms being selected which are compatible with uranium and capable of taking up uranium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-04-20 | 1984-10-20 | 1985-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-20 | 1988-10-20 | 1989-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-20 | 1992-10-20 | 1993-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |