Technology Library Application
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Request ID: 1473
Use of Naturally Occurring Microbes to Improve Water Quality and Reduce Organic Bottom Solids
MICROBE-LIFT are products containing only naturally occurring microbes and have been developed for specific applications to be used for water quality improvements and reduction of organic bottom solids. During 2008 & 09 the USEPA, USACE and FDEP stated in writing that they do not regulate the use of naturally occurring microbes as long as is no chemical, or genetic alteration and that they can be used in all types of waterways.
The specific MICROBE-LIFT products used are MICROBE-LIFT-PBL, MICROBE-LIFT-SA and MICROBE-LIFT PBD in a combination based on water and sediment analysis.
Most technologies used in the treatment of water bodies that become polluted or undergo eutrophication involve some form of physical or chemical treatment such as chemical oxidizers, flocculants, activated carbon and zeolites or mechanical dredging.
The drawback to physical and chemical treatments is that the treatments are based on stoichiometry, or molecule to molecule interactions. As a result, they get very expensive when treating large volumes of water. Bioremediation has been proven to be effective & in most cases very economical in treating bodies of water. Bioremediation takes advantage of natures processes for recycling the basic elements of pollutants and organic sediments into the biosphere through the biogeochemical cycles. To accelerate these natural processes bio-augmentation which is the purposeful inoculation of a system with microorganisms selected for their particular metabolic characteristics may be used.
In January 2009 SEEK Enterprises Inc was invited to the Jacksonville Zoo to demonstrate our products in their Swan Pond that had water quality issues causing health problems to the Swans. The sampling was done RAD Asso, Inc. of Jacksonville Fl and the analysis was completed by Environmental Conservation Lab Inc of Jacksonville.
On 15 Jan 2009 prior to treatment we tested for BOD, COD, Nitrate, Nitrite, TSS and Fecal Coliform. The test results were: pretest 15 Jan; BOD- 16 mg/L, COD- 240 mg/L, Nitrate-.06 mg/L, Nitrite-.32 mg/L TSS- 62 mg/L and Fecal Coliform- 36,000 CFU/100ml; !st treatment 24 Jan; 2nd test 31 Jan results in same order were:9.7; 85, 0.31, 0.13, 56, 10,000; 2nd treatment 5 Feb; 3rd test 26 Feb results in same order were: 1, 120, BDL, BDL, 106, 4,600. Last test w/o more treatment 16 Sep w/ results: 1, 35, BDL, BDL, 25, 1,200.
1st treatment- 10 Gal/acre of Microbe-lift PB & 10 Gal/acre of Microbe-Lift SA. 2nd treatment was cut by 50%.
There is no waste stream.
The process is logarithmic initially until the pollutant concentrations are reduced since the microbes grow exponentially on the pollutants.
If Water quality conditions is good and there are no dead organics present the microbes die as they rely on dead organics for their nutrition and proliferation.
They function equally in fresh, brackish or salt water conditions.
The process converts waste organic matter all the way to the basic elements of CO2, H2O, ammonia and new microbes to achieve continued pollution control. The CO2 and ammonia are not measurable. The residual material is any inorganic material that existed prior to treatment.
The sampling parameters are shown in our example of the Jacksonville Zoo Projects with the normal addition of depth of bottom solids and seci disk testing.
It is easily sprayed from the banks of a stream, from a boat or from an aircraft with simple spray equipment. No special protective equipment is needed for use.
Microbe-Lift should be stored in a cool environment until use.
Material Safety Data Sheets are available at the website of Ecological Laboratories, Inc which is:
www.microbelift.com and they address all Safety requirements.