Characteristics and Actions

AgricycleÔ Catalyst Enzyme (ACE) unique biological catalytic bioremediation system was developed to reduce emissions of various toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3), noxious odors such as those produced by putrefactive bacteria, and buildups of biosolids mass, including grease and oils.

Characteristics of ACE Enzymatic Catalyst

1. ACE Enzymatic Catalyst used by itself facilitates grease biomass reduction, biosolids reduction, septic odor control, sulfides cleaving, ammonia conversion from volatile to stable state (NH3 to NH4+), phosphate reduction, reduction of volatile fatty acids, and reduction of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). ACE promotes catalytic cleaving of a variety of otherwise stable chemical bonds, such as the hydrogen-sulfur bonds of Mercaptans, which effectively reduces odor and toxicity, and the long-chain hydrocarbons of grease and oil.

2. ACE is equally effective in aerobic and anaerobic environments.

3. ACE is a biological catalyst using a unique enzyme technology containing no live organisms. It does not use the "stressed bacteria" technology used by other manufacturers who market "enzyme" products. The "stressed bacteria" technology produces small amounts of extracellular enzyme. Stressed bacteria products contain live organisms which, when introduced into a food source and begin feeding, soon cease to produce the extra enzyme.

4. ACE contains only pure enzyme that produces a catalytic, not chemical, reaction. Only small amounts of product, on the order of 25,000:1 - 1,000,000:1, are required to produce a significant and desired reaction. As a biological catalyst, ACE continues to cause reactions for long periods of time, eventually oxidizing and only then necessitating maintenance treatment. A chemical reaction necessitates immediate consumption of the chemical during the reaction. Chemical products utilized for reduction of Mercaptans such as Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) require very substantial proportional amounts of product to produce the desired reactions. Chemical products are used up as they cause their reaction.

5. ACE contains an extremely low bacterial count, from zero to less than one bacterium per field at 450x magnification. Most "enzyme" products rely on high bacterial counts (10 billion or more per liter).

6. ACE is the end product. It is not produced by an intermediary such as stressed bacteria, which cease "extra" enzyme production after being introduced into a food source.

7. ACE is an all-natural product with no harsh, noxious, or toxic chemicals present in the formulation. The product is % biodegradable and harmless, and made entirely from food grade materials. It contains very small amounts of reagent grade sulfuric acid to stabilize the product. The pH of the shipped product is 1.9±0.1, equivalent in acidity to lime juice. It is shipped from the Rancho Cordova, California manufacturing facility meeting California regulations as a non-toxic, non-hazardous, benign food-grade product.

8. ACE has passed a standardized ‘Fathead Minnow’ fish bioassay toxicity study. An independent laboratory performed the test with % survivability in concentrations as high as 750 mg/L, or 1,333:1. These test results are available for review.

9. ACE can be produced in limitless quantities to precise specifications with a natural pH of 2.9. ACE is shipped at a pH of 1.9 to ensure stability of the product. Shelf life is guaranteed for two years when the temperature is maintained between 37° and 90° F. (3° and 32° C.) and kept away from sources of heat and direct sunlight.

Effects of ACE Enzymatic Catalyst

1. ACE Enzymatic Catalyst discriminates directly against hydrogen sulfide-producing anaerobic activity. ACE 200 microbes serve to outcompete these anaerobic bacteria further enhancing the effect. Under normal conditions of anaerobic activity, anaerobes metabolize sulfates instead of oxygen. Sulfates have extra oxygen molecules, which are utilized by the anaerobes in the metabolic process, which then leaves hydrogen sulfides. ACE Enzymatic Catalyst produces two different effects, which interrupt and prevent this anaerobic formation of sulfides from occurring:

2. ACE cleaves both single and double hydrogen-sulfur bonds. ACE breaks the hydrogen-sulfur molecular bonds of hydrogen sulfide as well as other Mercaptans. This cleaving action is also seen in petrochemical biodegradation processes, in which ACE cleaves long-chain hydrocarbons. Field research demonstrating the efficacy of ACE in controlling hydrogen sulfide in municipal force mains is available upon request.

3. The ACE catalyst converts volatile ammonia in its gas state (NH3) to liquid ammonium (NH4+) under most conditions. This reaction virtually eliminates the release of volatile ammonia from waste products to atmosphere. ACE reduces nitrogen and phosphate contamination by ammoniation, causing free ammonium (NH4+) to react with free acid or acidic phosphates when superphosphates (P2O5) are present. The result is the formation of plant available soluble fertilizer salts.

4. ACE cleaves the bonds of normal, straight chain, and long-chain hydrocarbons as well as paraffins. Greases and oils are reduced to smaller molecules with lower surface tension. ACE 200 converts these cleaved hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide, water, and simple salts. It is these effects which enable significant reductions in grease and oil mass. Greases and oils tend not to coagulate downstream as they no longer exist in their original form.

5. ACE has biosurfactant characteristics, lowering surface tension. A demonstration of this ability of the product is to clean and deodorize carpet soiled with pet stains. The combination of "wetting ability" and molecular cleaving make this a unique and powerful product for reducing and liquefying biosolids as well as rapidly degrading greases and oils.

Characteristics of ACE 200 Aerobic Microbes

1. The bacteria in ACE 200 inoculant are a research-selected mixture of several strains of Bacillus megaterium, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis. These bacillus strains are unique in that they are selected to produce a modest but consistent amount of extra-cellular enzyme, which accelerate the process of decomposition.

2. ACE 200 Aerobic Microbes inoculant is harmless to humans and animals and will not harm plants, trees, valves or plumbing. The blend of scientifically enhanced enzyme-producing bacteria act as catalytic agents and speed up the degradation rate of organic waste. They produce no poisons or toxins or harmful side effects in the process. Degradation of waste is the result of natural digestion of natural food by "friendly" bacteria. Their natural food is organic waste matter. The bacteria recycle wastes back to the simple basic parts: nutrients, air, and water from which they were formed.

3. Both Mesophiles and Thermophiles are provided in the ACE 200 blend. Mesophiles grow and metabolize well at medium temperatures (77°-113°F). Thermophiles do well at higher temperatures (95°-140°F). These types of bacteria are the most effective decomposers in the digestion process.

5. The guaranteed viable bacteria in ACE 200 produce a range of enzymes, which efficiently decompose organic matter.

• Lipase enzymes digest virtually all fats and greases by breaking down their molecular structure to dissolve them.

• Amylase enzymes digest all starches with which they come in contact. As with Lipase enzymes, they break down the molecular structure of starches to dissolve them.

• Protease enzymes digest organic wastes, the most common wastes found in waste treatment systems. Protease enzymes literally feed on, break down, and dissolve all organic wastes of the protein family.

• Cellulase enzymes digest plant cellulose, or fiber.

• Pectinase enzymes hydrolyze pectin, a component of plant cells that is difficult to digest.

6. All bacteria strains in ACE 200 are nonpathogenic and initially aerobic. All are facultative. In the absence of sufficient available oxygen in the waste, they change to an anaerobic state, and return to an aerobic state when free oxygen is available.

Effects of ACE 200 Aerobic Microbes

1. The primary function of ACE 200 is to facilitate the digestion of biosolids and long chain hydrocarbons such as comprise greases and oils.

2. ACE 200 Aerobic Microbes inoculant was developed to function synergistically with ACE. The bacteria are nonpathogenic and very robust, outcompeting many forms of pathogenic bacteria. The microbes are facultative and will compete well in anaerobic environments. The microbes return to an aerobic state under proper conditions.

3. Digester systems do not normally receive an adequate supply of bacteria from the influent sources. The use of acids, caustics, detergents, and modern bactericides and disinfectants kill bacteria digesters must have to operate. The bacteria strains in ACE 200 work together with the digester’s normally occurring bacteria to aid in more rapid breakdown of difficult compounds and improve the overall performance of the system.

4. Most organic materials can decompose naturally, but conditions can vary significantly resulting in inconsistent decomposition and sludge. ACE 200 inoculant assists natural digestion by initiating and promoting a more controlled process, and produces a stable, mature, lower volume sludge. When used with ACE Enzymatic Catalyst there is a significant increase in the rate of digestion and a reduction in odors.

5. ACE 200 Aerobic Microbes bacterial species are synergistic with ACE and are introduced or accompanied with ACE on an as needed basis to facilitate remediation activity in specific applications. Other non-native bacterial species may not benefit from the actions of ACE and could even diminish the efficacy of the catalytic product and should only be utilized after careful testing and evaluation.

Guarantee

1. Agricycle Bio Catalyst system ACE and ACE 200 will not be substituted or diluted. Our laboratory is constantly working toward improving the performance of ACE. Purchasers will always be advised of potential improvements to the product prior to such improvements being introduced.

2. Agricycle is unconditionally guaranteed for effectiveness under known application circumstances.

Frequently asked questions about ACE enzyme technology

Q. What happens to excess enzymes and microbes left when treatment is complete?

A. After biosolids or grease has been broken down into CO2, water and soluble salts; any remaining enzyme breaks down into simpler compounds such as amino acids and is consumed by aerobic microorganisms.

Q. Are there any microorganisms in ACE?

A. No. Although living aerobic bacteria produce the enzymes, these organisms are killed before the enzymes are packaged. ACE does not contain any living microorganisms.

Q. Are microorganisms added to biosolids together with the enzymes, or does treatment solely rely on indigenous microorganisms?

A. Treatment of municipal biosolids could rely strictly on native aerobic bacteria whose populations can be greatly increased by the presence of ACE. Treatment is much faster, however, with the introduction of ACE 200 aerobic microbes.

Q. Are there any detergents or surfactants included in ACE or ACE 200?

A. Neither ACE nor ACE 200 contains any detergents or surfactants. ACE does operate as a surfactant in many settings.

Q. What are the optimal conditions for treatment activity for the products with respect to pH, moisture, temperature and salinity?

A. The ACE and ACE 200 operate through a wide spectrum of environmental parameters: pH ranging from 4 to 9, moisture from 15% to 98% and temperatures from 3° to 60°C (37° to 140°F). Optimum: pH 6-7, moisture 50%, temperature 40°C (105°F).

Q. How does metals affect the activity of ACE or ACE 200?

A. The presence of metals generally does not have any negative impact on the efficacy of ACE enzyme technology. High concentrations of copper may mitigate effectiveness. ACE can actually prevent the formation of insoluble metal salts formed with phosphorus.

Q. What is the minimum shelf life for ACE and ACE 200, and what are the limitations on temperature, etc.?

A. The minimum shelf life is two years at a temperature of 15°C (59°F) or below. Both ACE and ACE 200 will tolerate freezing, however it is not recommended. The products should not be exposed to heat or direct sunlight for extended periods of time.

Q. Is the product formulation or concentration changed to address different applications?

A. The product formulations remain the same, but the concentration may vary depending on the type of application.

Q. What research has been conducted on the effects of ACE?

A. Independent odor control studies were conducted by Iowa State University in 1995 and 1997. In both studies Agricycle Bio Catalyst technology was rated effective. Corporate research includes studies of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and grease reduction under field conditions.