- What is ecoplus made of?
- How does ecoplus work?
- What spills can ecoplus be used on?
- After a spill on water has been treated with ecoplus what do I do with the spill residue?
- How do I treat a spill on land?
- How long does ecoplus take to break down the hydrocarbon contamination at a spill site?
- How much ecoplus do I need to treat a spill?
- Do I need specially trained personnel to apply ecoplus?
- Do I need special protective gear when dosing with ecoplus?
- How is ecoplus packaged?
ecoplus is a 100% organic product and is derived from a special blend of renewable organic materials found in South Africa. This blend of materials has been manipulated using an all natural production process (not bio-engineered or genetically modified) so that it becomes oleophilic (oil loving) and hydrophobic (resistant to water).
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Absorption of the spilled hydrocarbons occur when the oil is drawn into the ecoplus fibres. |
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ecoplus lowers the surface tension of the oil. |
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Humic acids in ecoplus then hydrolyze the oil to form long chain organic acids. |
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Bacteria (micro flora) utilize these organic acids through enzymatic reactions to form acetic acid. |
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Acetic acid in turn, forms the basic building block for the production of either Carbon Dioxide and water under aerobic conditions or Methane (CH4) and water under anaerobic conditions. It is important to remember that these are the only by-products that remain after the oil has been metabolized. |
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Carbon is used by organisms for the synthesis of proteins and Hydrogen in the electron transfer chain. | |
2. How does ecoplus work?
ecoplus works in two stages.
Encapsulation
As a result of the special production process ecoplus has a fibrous nature which allows for the absorption of hydrocarbons / chemical compounds through a powerful capillary action. ecoplus also lowers the surface tension of the oil. This process happens as soon as ecoplus is administered at the site of the spill.
Bio-remediation
ecoplus contains a high concentration of intact and dormant micro-organisms which become active as soon as they are mixed with hydrocarbons, oxygen, water and an energy source (light). When this happens Humic acids in ecoplus hydrolyze the oil through carboxylase enzymatic reactions to form long chain organic acids. Bacteria (micro flora) utilize these organic acids through enzymatic reactions to form Acetic acid. Acetic acid in turn forms the basic building block for the production of either Carbon Dioxide and water under aerobic conditions or Methane (CH4) and water under anaerobic conditions. It is important to remember that these are the only by-products that remain after the oil has been metabolized. Carbon is used by organisms for the synthesis of proteins and Hydrogen in the electron transfer chain.
3. What spills can ecoplus be used on?
ecoplus will absorb and encapsulate all Crude oils, motor oils, diesel, petrol, PCB's (Polychlorinated bi-phenyls), oil based paints, animal fats, vegetable oils, pesticides, acids and other chemicals. Should you have another type of spill and are in doubt we suggest that you contact us.
4. After a spill on water has been treated with ecoplus what do I do with the spill residue?
It is important to remember that ecoplus will not allow any of the pollutant to leach out. Once all of the ecoplus / pollutant residue has been collected it can be either disposed of in an environmentally approved landfill site, ploughed into the earth (land farmed), incinerated or containerized. Please be advised that due to the large variety of pollutants (hydrocarbon, chemical, paints and other) that ecoplus can encapsulate, and the widely varying disposal regulations relating to each one, as well as differing geographic jurisdictions, we recommend that you dispose according to local regulations at the spill site and that you contact your local authorities for advice in this regard.
5. How do I treat a spill on land?
Simply spread the required amount of ecoplus on the polluted surface and plough in as deep as the pollutant has penetrated the ground. The ploughing action is important in that it aerates the soil, breaks up large pockets of the pollutant and allows the ecoplus to be mixed thoroughly with all of the pollutant. The next step is to water the site regularly for at least two weeks. The water gives the micro-flora a chance to grow and multiply. A watery environment also acts as a medium for the micro-organisms to move around and to reach all of the hydrocarbon bonds.
6. How long does ecoplus take to break down the hydrocarbon contamination at a spill site?
Obviously each spill site differs due to the nature and amount of the pollutant present. If the correct amount of ecoplus is added and the site is turned and aerated properly and then watered, bio-remediation will begin immediately. Generally speaking the site will be ready for planting after 14 days, however laboratory tests have shown that plants planted 3 days after a polluted sample of soil has been treated with ecoplus have survived.
7. How much ecoplus do I need to treat a spill?
Remember that dosing rates vary depending on the nature and viscosity of the pollutants. As a general rule of thumb 30 kg of ecoplus will treat 100 Litres of hydrocarbon type spill. Please refer to our dosing table in the website.
8. Do I need specially trained personnel to apply ecoplus?
You do not require specially trained personnel to administer ecoplus at the site of a spill. All dosing, ploughing, and watering should preferably be done under the supervision of someone with the relevant experience in this regard.
9. Do I need special protective gear when dosing with ecoplus?
ecoplus is 100% organic, non-corrosive, non toxic and biodegradable. Due to its fine, absorbent nature it is light and fluffy and we would recommend the use of protective eye goggles especially when working in windy conditions or in confined enclosed areas. Protective clothing is not necessary but may be advantageous to prevent possible skin irritation after long exposure to excess amounts of the product. The use of 2 strap disposable dust masks is recommended at all times to prevent inhalation of dust. Please also refer to our Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for further information.
ecoplus comes in sealed 20kg polyethylene bags with instructions for use, printed on the bag.