Novel Serratia Strain and Uses Thereof

Oil Contamination Remediation and Biosurfactant Production Technology Using a Novel Serratia Strain

This technology utilizes a novel Serratia sp. DM1 strain, which possesses both the ability to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons—such as diesel and lubricants—and the capacity to produce lipase-containing biosurfactants. It is designed for applications in oil spill remediation, biosurfactant production, and as a raw material for detergents and skin-cleansing cosmetics.

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination from storage tank leaks, marine oil spills, and industrial discharge significantly degrades the ecological function of soil and groundwater. While physical and chemical remediation methods are fast, they are energy-intensive, costly, and can damage the surrounding environment, leading to low social acceptance. Bioaugmentation, which involves the direct application of microorganisms, has emerged as a promising alternative, but there has been a shortage of high-efficiency oil-degrading microbes suitable for this purpose.

This technology allows for eco-friendly remediation without secondary pollutants by directly applying the DM1 strain to contaminated sites to break down petroleum hydrocarbons. The biosurfactants produced by this strain and its culture components can also serve as biodegradable alternatives to synthetic surfactants. With applications in soil and groundwater restoration, marine spill response, eco-friendly detergents, and cleansing cosmetics, this single strain enables simultaneous entry into both the environmental remediation and green surfactant markets.

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Key Features:

• A process for treating oil contamination sources with the Serratia sp. DM1 strain, which possesses petroleum hydrocarbon degradation and lipase-containing biosurfactant production capabilities
• A microbial preparation for producing lipase-containing biosurfactants, comprising the Serratia sp. DM1 strain as an active ingredient
• A biosurfactant comprising at least one of the DM1 strain, its culture medium, extract, or cell-free supernatant as an active ingredient
• A cleaning composition and a skin-cleansing cosmetic composition comprising at least one of the DM1 strain, its culture medium, extract, or cell-free supernatant as an active ingredient

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for omics-based rhizoremediation to improve contaminated soil remediation efficiency and reduce non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions.

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