Microbiological cleaning suitable for use in rural and urban sanitation

31st July 2015

By: Schalk Burger

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

Font size: - +

Bacteria of the Bacillus subtilis species secrete four enzymes that break down organic material to enable the bacteria to digest it, and microbiological cleaning company Green Worx Cleaning Solutions uses their natural functions to clean organic waste in sanitation systems.

The protease, lipase, cellulase and amylase enzymes break down the organic compounds and uric acid in sanitation systems that commonly cause malodours and septic conditions, enabling the bacteria to digest the compounds and produce carbon dioxide and water.

The bacteria multiply when there is an abundance of food sources and die off, forming bacterial spores, when the food sources have been consumed.

Bacillus subtilis bacteria are Gram-positive, occur naturally in soil and in people’s digestive systems, are nonpathogenic and safe to use for sanitation and cleaning purposes, says Green Worx technical marketing consultant Clinton Smith.

Green Worx’ solution works by releasing a dense concentration of the bacteria in the presence of moisture. A large initial population means greater exponential growth in the size of the bacteria population over a shorter timeframe, enabling the solution to be designed for the application in question.

“The biocleaning solution is suitable for application in rural sanitation systems, such as pit latrines or leach-pit systems, and in urban sanitation systems, which is where most of our sanitation products are currently used.”

He says the solution is being applied in sanitation treatment in underground mines, to alleviate smells and make waste sludge easier to pump, in abattoir cesspits, at tanneries, in wastewater treatment in agriculture, at wineries and in the bioremediation of waste milk fats at dairies.

The mesophilic bacteria are only active at temperatures between 2 °C and 45 °C. The bacterial colonies double in population every 10 to 20 minutes in conducive conditions and each bacterium can live up to 80 hours.

The cleaning products containing the bacteria are readily biodegradable, achieving 60% to 70% biodegradation within seven to ten days, and do not cause environmental damage.

The biocleaning bacteria can also be used to clean grey water from personal ablutions, and clothes and dish washing; however, the water is not purified to potable quality and will be suitable for use only in agriculture or gardens.

Using biocleaning solutions in sanitation systems require a behavioural change by users. The microbes are sensitive to disinfectants, requiring users to use alternative cleaning chemicals, and are only effective in medium-temperature applications, such as low-temperature washing of clothes or novel wastewater treatment systems.

Meanwhile, Smith does not foresee a need to develop any significant additional skills to enable biocleaning products to be used, though plumbers should be aware, and make their clients aware, of the proper use and treatment of such solutions, including designing biological systems that will operate effectively within the suitable temperature range.

Further, Green Worx also makes enzymatic-cleaning products for use in the food industry, since the common food industry tests for bacteria will indicate a positive result if the bacteria were used instead of the enzymes, and for use in washing powders to clean clothes stained with organic materials.

The company reports exporting significant volumes of its products to Namibia and lower volumes to other Southern Africa countries. Green Worx foresees continued demand for its products and growth of new applications such as in sanitation systems.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION