Petrox

Petrox™ bioremediation of fuel, oil and grease

Fast, Reliable Results

Petrox contains a highly-concentrated consortium of multiple petroleum-degrading microbial strains. Extracted from natural sources and isolated under controlled laboratory conditions, these beneficial organisms degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, and semi-volatile hydrocarbons to convert them mainly into carbon dioxide and water.

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From Brown To Green Faster

Site closure often occurs in a matter of weeks or months versus several years or more for other methods, giving users the combined benefit of fast site closure and remarkable cost savings.

Standard and Custom Blends

Available in standard blend or custom formulations for specific needs, Petrox can be used as a highly effective stand-alone decontamination solution or as a powerful augmentation to speed the remediation of existing treatment systems.

Standard Petrox blends target BTEX compounds (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene),  Dioctylphthalate (common plasticizer), Fuels (gasoline, diesel and heating oils), Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK, 2-butanone), Methylene Chloride, Mineral spirits, Naphthalene, Stoddard solvents, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) including benzo(a)pyrene, and trimethylbenzene isomers.  Click here to download a summary of applications to petroleum products.

How Does Petroleum Bioremediation Work?

Petroleum hydrocarbons are made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms bound into molecules with straight chain (alkanes) or ring structures (aromatic).  Hydrocarbon molecules such as the branched alkanes and multiple ring structures are complications of the ring and linear carbon and hydrogen structures.
Petroleum hydrocarbons are generally hydrophobic.  Microbes produce biosurfactants to increase the solubility of the hydrocarbon.
The solubilized hydrocarbon passes through the microbial cell wall.  Inside the cell, metabolism is initiated by oxygenase and peroxidase enzymes.  The hydrocarbon is broken down in peripheral degradation pathways of the Krebs cycle.  The sequential reactions produce cellular energy stored in NDAH molecules.  Some of the carbon is incorporated into cell mass and some is released as carbon dioxide.  The hydrogen is released and combines with oxygen to form water.

Custom Petrox blends target unusual contaminants for bioremediation, such as chromium, pesticides, and explosives.

How fast is it?

Petrox bioremediation begins as soon as the microbes contact the contamination.  Contaminant removal rates have beeen observed at over 1.0 mg/L/day.  Measurable field results may take time as the microbes and effect must migrate from the application location to the sampling location.  The following chart shows remediation rates over 90% in less than 90 days.

Applications

  • Commonly used at fuel terminals and gas stations, in the metals and chemicals industries, citrus production, railroads, manufactured gas plants, and wood treatment facilities.
  • Designed for stand-alone application or for augmentation of existing treatments, including vapor stripping, sparging, excavation, and dual-phase extractions technologies.

Each Petrox product batch is manufactured under sterile conditions, and subjected to stringent quality control protocols before release for shipment. Available as a freeze-dried powder and hydrated on site for the highest possible microbial activity, each culture is provided with unique nutrient/growth factor formulation to maximize viable cell count.

Environmental Conditions for  Treatment

Parameter Effective Range Optimum Range
PH 4.5-9.5 6.0-8.0
Temperature 32-105ºF 55-90ºF
Salinity 0-5% <5%
Dissolved Oxygen >0.0ppm 1-8ppm

Petrox: Demonstrated Remediation Rates

Contaminant Initial Concentration (ppm) Final Concentration (ppm) Test Period (hours) Percent Reduction Degradation Rate (mg/L/hr at 1E06 CFU/ml)
Fuel Oil in Water 2,000 1,400 40 30% 15
Fuel Oil in Sand 2,000 1,400 240 30% 2.5
Ethyl Benzene 3 0 168 100% 0.02
Xylene 3.6 0.4 168 89% 0.02
Toluene 99 15 168 85% 0.5
Methyl Ethyl Ketone 21 4 168 81% 0.1
Phenol 90 0 48 100% 1.9
Methylene Chloride 15 0 168 100% 0.09
Pentachlorophenol 50 32 84 35% 0.21
Dioctylphthalate 100 70 120 30% 0.25

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