OIL CLEANING BIO-PRODUCTS LTD.
PRESS RELEASE
OIL CLEANING BIO-PRODUCTS LTD. LAUNCHES "HEG" RANGE OF BACTERIAL CLEANSERS, BIOREMEDIATION AGENTS AND ABSORBENTS FOR GENERAL MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES
December 1995
Oil Cleaning Bio-Products Ltd. has launched to British manufacturing and engineering industry the "Heg" range of bacterial oil cleaners, degreasers, absorbents and bioremediation agents. This follows a period of intensive market research and of consultations with companies in various industrial sectors about their pollution control problems and requirements.
Commenting on the prospects for the "Heg" products, OCBP's Managing Director Richard Genochio said: "The actual and potential markets are huge. The products are safe, outstandingly effective - and very versatile. They can be used in many industries. They can deal with most hydrocarbon and other organic wastes and contaminants, whether in industrial effluents or process wastes, in contaminated land, in accidental spills on land or water, or on concrete and metallic surfaces." Commenting on the findings of OCBP's market research, he added: "There is a keenly felt need for cost-effective biodegradable materials such as the "Heg" products. Companies are increasingly aware that best environmental practice calls for products and techniques which can cope with pollution with safety to the workforce and to the environment - preferably on site. There is a growing recognition that the harsh detergents and solvents and the non-biodegradable absorbents which are still commonly used will become increasingly unacceptable."
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1) The "Heg" range of products consists of: Hegol (oil-degrading bacteria added to a biodegradable quick splitting surfactant); Hegsolv (oil-degrading bacteria added to a biodegradable water-based solvent with rust inhibitor); Hegrem (oil-encapsulating and oleophilic absorbent made from biodegradable plant fibres, with oil-degrading bacteria - for contaminated land); Hegfloor (low dust, oleophilic absorbent made from biodegradable plant fibres - for spills on hard floors) and Hegsorb (hydrophobic, oil-encapsulating and biodegradable absorbent - for spills on water).2) The bacteria are all naturally occurring and specially selected for their ability, in the course of normal bacterial metabolism, to break down a variety of hydrocarbon and other organic molecules into their harmless components. They are commonly found in the every-day environment, and have not been genetically altered. At the time of cleaning, Hegol and Hegsolv respectively emulsify and solubilise oil and grease - but subsequently permit the reformation in the separator of a surface layer which can be easily removed for biodegradation.
3) The results of the performance trials of the products in different applications show very high oil degradation rates of close to 100% for oil in contaminated land, for waste oils in water and for oily run-off from hard surfaces.
4) In 1992, the market for technologies, goods and services for pollution control and clean-up in western Europe alone was estimated at $94 billion (£144 billion). The world-wide market just for the treatment of contaminated land was estimated at $5 billion (£7.6 billion) in 1992, growing to $20 billion (£31 billion) by 2000. 5) Oil Cleaning Bio-Products Ltd. has previously announced that it has agreed, within the context of the European Union's "Eureka" programme, to work with partners in four other European countries on a research and development programme for the treatment of deep-seated land contamination.
6) Oil Cleaning Bio-Products Ltd. is the sole and world-wide supplier of the "Heg" products. Marketing has focused first on the UK - which will also serve as the base for supply and operations in the rest of Europe, the CIS countries, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America.and Africa. OCBP Ltd. is working on the introduction of further products in the "Heg" range later in 1996 and in 1997. For further information contact OCBP Ltd., PO Box 46, Royston, Herts. SG8 9PD; tel. (+44) (0) 1763 287 749.