The production of nutritious protein from petroleum

Six soil isolates were grown on a petroleum sulfonate medium and analyzed chromatographically to determine their amino acid composition. The organisms were also examined to determine their growth rate in the petroleum medium, their per cent conversion of hydrocarbon to dry cell mass, their protein content, and their possible use as a food or food supplement. It was found that the isolates varied extensively as to their amino acid composition. Several of the isolates proved to convert the hydrocarbons to cell mass with relative ease. The proteins of four of the isolates appear to be suitable as a good food source, and the protein of one of the remaining isolates appears to be a very good food supplement.