MicroCat®

MicroCat® products are microbial formulations which are applied to start-up, restore or enhance biological degradation processes. The application of microbial formulations to achieve these goals is known as “bioaugmentation”

MicroCat stands for Microbial Catalyst.

MicroCat products are mixtures of safe, natural ingredients. These include microorganisms (bacteria and fungi), enzymes, wetting agents, nutrients, adsorbents and buffers. MicroCat products are available in dry powder, liquid and solid form.
The MicroCat products are applied for problem solving in water, soil, sludge and air treatment. Applications comprise; odour control, wastewater treatment activation and optimisation, soil and groundwater remediation, kitchen drain & grease trap maintenance, oil water separator maintenance, sewer and pumping station maintenance, composting, agriculture and aquaculture.

Benefits of MicroCat® use:

  • Environmental friendly and natural products
  • Eliminate Fat, Oil and Greases (FOG)
  • Reduce H2S odours and corrosion
  • Reduce BOD, Suspended Solids, COD and ammonium (NH4+) & nitrate (NO3–) concentrations
  • Increases the biodegradation of (persistent) organics
  • Reduces the growth of filamentous bacteria in wastewater treatments
  • Reduce wastewater treatment sludge mass
  • Improves sludge settling
  • Improve operational efficiency
  • Cost effective
  • Reduces the environmental liability

Applications

Industrial and municipal wastewater treatment

  • Start-up & restart of biological installations
  • Improvement of nitrification/dentrification
  • Optimisation of BOD removal
  • Degradation of toxic compounds
  • Improved sludge settling/ Filamentous bacteria elimination
  • Reduction of H2S
  • Sludge volume and mass reduction
  • Drain, Grease Trap, Sewer Line cleaning & maintenance
    • Biodegradation of FOG in drains, traps, sewer lines and pumping stations
    • Prevention of H2S formation in force main sewers
  • Oil-water separator maintenance
  • Septic tank & small scale treatment plant start-up and maintenance
  • Odour control
    • Drain and sewer networks
    • Composting
    • Animal manure
  • Soil & Groundwater bioremediation
    • Stimulation of biodegradation in in- & ex-situ bioremediation projects
  • Agri- & Aqua culture
    • Ammonium reduction in pig- & poultry stables
    • Liquification of solidified animal manure
    • Algae control in ponds
    • Water treatment in commercial fish and shrimp farms

Bioaugmentatie FAQ’s

TYPICAL QUESTIONS POSED BY CUSTOMERS . .
What do MicroCat® Bioaugmentation products do?
Our microbial formulations carry out the biodegradation of a large variety of organic pollutants. This biodegradation is accomplished by the enzyme systems produced by the microbes. The enzymes chemically break down waste compounds, ultimately to carbon dioxide and water. The enzymes enable the microbes to use the organic contaminants as sources of energy or as reproductive building blocks.

Our products and services are based on the latest commercially available advances in biotechnology designed to meet the requirements of specific waste treatment problems. Each prescribed augmentation program is based on an engineering analysis of the specific treatment system. The augmentation program combines the appropriate microbial species with dosage recommendations and process adjustments to effect a cost-effective solution

. . . and Complementary Services . . .

Our services are designed to complement our product offerings in order to solve the most complex waste treatment problems. Our support staff and fully equipped laboratory facilities are available to provide a wide range of services, including: Microscopic Examinations, Chemical Analyses, Treatability Testing, Toxicity Testing, and Process Design.

Highly trained and experienced scientists, the laboratory and the production facilities together with the practical expertise gained during decades of bioaugmentation applications by our technical sales staff are ready to support you 24 hours a day !!

Where do MicroCat® microbes come from?
These microbes are naturally occurring and were originally isolated from the environment. In general they can be found in areas of contaminated water or soil containing the compounds of interest. Once isolated, the microbes are grown on selective media designed to enhance their ability to degrade the compounds. The next step in the process produces several variants of each original microbe, which are again grown on selective media. The most viable and successful are harvested from the culture, grown in large batches, dispersed in a medium designed to maintain activity during shipment and storage and then blended with other microbes, enzymes, surfactants and adsorbents to create the final product.
Are they safe?
Yes. Our commercial microbial strains have been reproduced from the parental stains in much the same manner as this occurs in nature. In addition, our quality control program insures that no disease-producing microbes are present in any of our formulations. Our quality control standard is high and ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Can they “Take over” and cause new problems?
No. Naturally occurring micro organisms generated in this manner will very rapidly consume the chemicals normally toxic or inhibitory to many other micro organisms. As this consumption occurs, the microbes grow, reproduce and die in a dynamic sequence. Once their preferred food source becomes limiting (runs out), the growth rate of the microbes slows down. The microbes, in turn, become a food source for other microbes present in the system. Although our microbes may become an established part of the ecosystem, they seldom, if ever, take over or predominate the microbial population.
Are regular maintenance doses required?
Usually. The specific conditions of the treatment system determine if the augmentation microbes become established as a permanent part of the waste treatment ecosystem. If target contaminants fluctuate in concentration (as in the most common situations) the bacteria will grow rapidly when concentrations are high and slowly when concentrations are low. The augmented microbes may die out or be present in too low a number after a period of low influent concentration to be effective when the waste strength increases rapidly. Other conditions (pH, temperature, waste flow rate, alkalinity) will also vary causing fluctuations in the population dynamics (relative numbers of different microbes) of the system. For these reasons, regular maintenance application is most often recommended.
Are MicroCat products expensive to use?

No. MicroCat® products are cheap in use and in most cases much cheaper than alternative methods to solve problems. Bioaugmentation with MicroCat® products can replace hazardous chemicals and even help to increase the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant to avoid costly physical adjustments.