(US5688685-A)      Isolation of a microorganism (MO) which aerobically degrades an organic contaminant (OC), consisting of an aliphatic and/or aromatic cpd(s)., comprises: (a) culturing a soil sample contg. OC, under aerobic conditions, on minimal medium contg. an aromatic cpd(s). (AC) as the sole source of carbon and/or nitrogen and energy; (b) selecting an MO which can utilise the OC as the sole source of C and/or N and energy; (c) culturing the selected MO under aerobic conditions in the presence of at least one N cpd. (I) selected from nitrobenzene, aniline, melamine and cyanuric acid and an aromatic cpd. (II) selected from naphthalene, benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylene; and (d) isolating an OC-degrading MO from the MO's cultured in (c). Alternatively the process comprises: (a') culturing an MO which can aerobically utilise AC as the sole source of C and/or N and energy under aerobic conditions, in the presence of (I) and (II); and (b') recovering the OC-degrading MO from the MO's cultured in step (a'). Also claimed is a compsn. for obtaining an MO which can aerobically degrade OC, comprising minimal medium contg. (I) and (II), where the C:N ratio is 10-50:1.    USE -   The MO's degrade OC's such as aromatic, nitroaromatic, halo-aromatic, halonitroaromatic, aliphatic and haloaliphatic cpds. to CO2 and H2O. The OC-contg. wastes to be treated ('bioremediated') include elastomeric solids or sludges (after fluidisation), tarry materials, soil, gases, aerosols and liquids. The MO's may be immobilised on a support, e.g. a biofilter.    ADVANTAGE -   The MO's rapidly and efficiently degrade a wide range of OC's, without producing toxic intermediates or by-prods.. They can be stored for long periods (e.g. at least 4 months) without loss of activity, degrade OC's at relatively high concns. (e.g. at least 1 wt. %) and tolerate a wide range of OC concns. and concn. variations.    (JP10510711-W)      Isolation of a microorganism (MO) which aerobically degrades an organic contaminant (OC), consisting of an aliphatic and/or aromatic cpd(s)., comprises: (a) culturing a soil sample contg. OC, under aerobic conditions, on minimal medium contg. an aromatic cpd(s). (AC) as the sole source of carbon and/or nitrogen and energy; (b) selecting an MO which can utilise the OC as the sole source of C and/or N and energy; (c) culturing the selected MO under aerobic conditions in the presence of at least one N cpd. (I) selected from nitrobenzene, aniline, melamine and cyanuric acid and an aromatic cpd. (II) selected from naphthalene, benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylene; and (d) isolating an OC-degrading MO from the MO's cultured in (c). Alternatively the process comprises: (a') culturing an MO which can aerobically utilise AC as the sole source of C and/or N and energy under aerobic conditions, in the presence of (I) and (II); and (b') recovering the OC-degrading MO from the MO's cultured in step (a'). Also claimed is a compsn. for obtaining an MO which can aerobically degrade OC, comprising minimal medium contg. (I) and (II), where the C:N ratio is 10-50:1.    USE -   The MO's degrade OC's such as aromatic, nitroaromatic, halo-aromatic, halonitroaromatic, aliphatic and haloaliphatic cpds. to CO2 and H2O. The OC-contg. wastes to be treated ('bioremediated') include elastomeric solids or sludges (after fluidisation), tarry materials, soil, gases, aerosols and liquids. The MO's may be immobilised on a support, e.g. a biofilter.    ADVANTAGE -   The MO's rapidly and efficiently degrade a wide range of OC's, without producing toxic intermediates or by-prods.. They can be stored for long periods (e.g. at least 4 months) without loss of activity, degrade OC's at relatively high concns. (e.g. at least 1 wt. %) and tolerate a wide range of OC concns. and concn. variations.