LE South Africa introduces oil-spill-eating enzyme technology

Image via Lubrication Engineers

Environmentally safe and cost-effective

The product is marketed as “the world’s most environmentally safe and cost-effective bioremediation process for the mitigation of hazardous waste, spills and contamination virtually anywhere of any size, large or small” and uses a biological enzyme to convert waste into a natural food source for bacteria found in aquatic environments.

"Unlike other supposed bioremediation oil clean-up techniques, OSE II is not a bacteria, a fertiliser or dispersant product," explains Callum Ford, national marketing manager for LE South Africa. “Basically, OSE II contains nutrients that attract indigenous bacteria. These then rapidly multiply, which speeds up the natural spill remediation process.

"In nature, bacteria release enzymes and biosurfactants that attack the spill. The biosurfactants emulsify the spill, breaking it down to be used as a food source for the bacteria. The end result of this process is CO2 and water."

Instructions for use

OSE II is applied by surface spray apparatus and the usual mixing radio is 1:50 – one litre of OSE II mixed with 50 litres of non-chlorinated water (as the water needs to contain bacteria). Denser concentrations can be used for older or heavier spills to accelerate the oil-eating process. The process cleaning time duration varies from a few hours to several weeks, depending on the kind of hydrocarbon and type of spill.

OSE II can bioremediate most organic-based compounds and almost all hydrogen-based compounds. "OSE II is also the perfect solution for cleaning up oiled wildlife and marine life because it works so swiftly and is non-toxic, causing the oil to just easily slough off once sprayed on," says Ford. "This causes less trauma for the animal being cleaned and a much faster and easier clean-up process. The spill is detoxified to the point that indigenous bacteria can now use the oil as a food source."

LE South Africa supplies the OSE II in ready-to-use kits, complete with a 16-litre backpack sprayer. Applications include oil spills on oceans and lakes, asphalt and concrete spills, fuel tank cleaning, underground spills, ship deck cleaning, ballast water tank cleaning, bilge tank cleaning, airport tarmac cleaning, and clean-ups of all kinds of oil leakages.