Louisiana State University technology being marketed to clean up waste streams

Business Wire, May 25, 1995

BATON ROUGE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 1995--A high-tech system that "makes house calls" to clean up contaminated waste streams has been announced by Louisiana State University and American Biochemical Corp. of Lockport, La.

The LSU-patented technology -- which uses microbes as the cleaning agent -- is expected to give the state a significant boost in complying with federal regulations of zero pollution by the end of 1996, says its developer, LSU environmental studies professor Ralph Portier.

Earlier this year American Biochemical Corp. licensed the cleaning process, then formed a 13-company consortium to commercialize it.

Portier, a pioneer in his field, has developed more than 3,000 waste-eating microbes and used them for successful cleanup projects throughout the world -- from the "Valdez" spill to the Persian Gulf.

The "bugs" are permanently placed on porous material in a giant cylinder called a "bioreactor." The polluted water enters the cylinder at one end and is clean by the time it makes its way to the other end, Portier said.

One reactor can treat up to 200 gallons per minute or a half-million gallons during a 24-hour period, he said.

American Biochemical is building a series of mobile bioreactors mounted on 45-foot trailers for land sites.

Consortium member Lytal Marine Operators Inc. of Lockport is also building a fleet of vessel-mounted systems for operation on inland waters and offshore.

David McGovern, ABC environmental manager, said the company intends to go national and international with the new system.

The microbes can clean such things as liquids from industrial washing, from production or exploration of natural gas or petroleum, the manufacture of petrochemicals, cruise ships and offshore support vessels, municipal drinking or waste water, shipyards and other shore support facilities, and seafood processing and agricultural operations.

CONTACT: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

Sally T. Kuzenski, 504/388-3871