Patent ID: 6303844
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B09C,C02F

Abstract:
A method of decontaminating a medium containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or dioxins with a plant, which comprises:a) adding a nonionic surfactant or dimethyl sulfoxide or a combination thereof to the medium containing the PCBs or dioxins or both; and thereafterb) bringing the medium containing the PCBs or dioxins or both in contact with hairy roots obtained from introduction of an Ri plasmid from Agrobacterium rhizogenes into the plant which absorbs, or absorbs and decomposes the PCBs or dioxins or both;wherein the dimethyl sulfoxide or the nonionic surfactant or the combination thereof is added to the medium in an amount of 0.005 to 1.0% by weight; andwherein the plant belongs to a genus selected from the group consisting of Solanaceae, Cruciferae, Umbelliferae, Clenopodiaceae, Leguminosae, Compositae and Saxifragaceae.