MDG News and Updates

  Part of what is driving Microbial Discovery Group’s (MDG) current expansion is our desire to produce 50+ strains. Why do we want to be a Bacillus company that produces 50+ strains? Essentially, to offer the best service and products for our customers. Below are the three main reasons why our drive to produce 50+ strains is fueling our expansion. MDG’s belief in multi-strain product offerings The current Bacillus strain renaissance Competitive advantage MDG’s belief in multi-strain product offerings At MDG, we like adding multiple strains to our products. With the vast array of strains in our library, it is difficult to only put one or two of them in our wastewater, bioremediation, janitorial, sanitation, or landfill products. We like making 6-7 strain products, with each strain being complementary to the other rather than copies of one another. We do this to ensure the success of our products. For example, when these strains hit a wastewater lagoon, who knows what substrates, temperatures, oxygen, and pH conditions they will find. You must be prepared with a broad and complementary team of strains. Because of this, we need the ability to grow a lot of different strains. The expansion was necessary to ensure our ability to […]

The rising demand for artificial grass and turf has led to thousands of installations across America, with over a thousand more being added annually.² Schools, municipalities, and businesses are increasingly adopting artificial grass and turf as a sustainable solution. However, it is common for unwanted contaminants and odors to accumulate on artificial grass and turf from various sources such as oil and grease from vehicles and equipment, debris, waste from animals, and more. Regardless of the type of activity occurring, owners want to ensure their artificial grass and turf are maintained. The importance of synthetic grass maintenance is becoming increasingly relevant to your customers in the industrial and institutional market. Artificial Grass vs Turf: What’s the Difference? “Artificial grass” and “turf” are often used interchangeably, but they have minor differences². Both names refer to different types of synthetic grass³. Typically, the pristine grass fields seen in residential or commercial landscaping applications, big club stadiums, and professional sports fields are known in the industry as artificial grass. Artificial grass has longer blades, providing a more natural appearance, and is enhanced with additional cushion or infill for falls and natural ball bounce. Artificial grass may even have shock pads for players, along […]

What do many commercial, residential, industrial and institutional facilities all have in common? If you said a door, you’re technically correct; but for the purpose of today’s article the correct answer was Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG)! All of your customers facilities have drains, and drains are sought-after hosts for FOG. FOG commonly builds up in pre-rinse stations and dishwashers, compartment sinks, mop sinks, floor drains, floor sinks and trough drains. The accumulation of FOG can be caused by a multitude of different sources; lubricating oils, road construction, cooking, and more. Regardless of the cause, FOG causes costly problems when left untreated. With FOG as a leading cause of drain and sewer backups, a high-quality product that gets rid of fats, oils and grease should be a staple in your Industrial and Institutional product line. The infographic below illustrates the benefits of a high-quality bacteria-based treatment solution against the alternatives, the problems associated with harsh chemicals or leaving the problem untreated. MDG specializes in providing Bacillus concentrate products to manufacturers in the I&I industry. With a foundation in research and development, MDG excels in the isolation, characterization and fermentation of Bacillus. Our SporActiv™ line contains a combination of Bacillus strains […]

Spring is a time of revitalization, especially for the microbial communities in wastewater systems. Microbial activity increases as temperatures rise, and the transformation of these communities as they adapt to the temperature change can cause various issues for system operators. Getting ahead of these challenges doesn’t have to be difficult, though. With MDG’s expertise in Bacillus-based bioaugmentation treatment, you can successfully deliver powerful, cost-effective solutions to your customers. Discover why springtime can exacerbate some common wastewater problems, and find out how MDG’s Biotifx® bioaugmentation products can help. Sludge and FOG: The Visible Challenges Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and sludge tend to accumulate and cause system backups if not removed. Before the real heat of summer sets in, it’s a good idea to take advantage of spring’s transitional weather and find locations where FOG and sludge buildup might be an issue. Helping your customers identify and treat those areas can set them up for success in the months ahead. Plus, when you become one of our distribution partners, you’ll have access to application-specific guides that make it easy to understand where and how to treat. H2S and Odors: The Invisible Challenges Climbing temperatures can have an unwanted effect on the […]

Unlock the secret to a fresh and clean bathroom experience for your customers with MDG’s SporActiv® Bacillus.   What is Uric Acid?  Uric acid, one component found in urine, forms a solid crystalline salt residue that can build up on bathroom surfaces over time. This buildup can be difficult to remove and trap unwanted odors. With the help of SporActiv® Bacillus products, you can help stop the problem. Backed by our Real Science, Trusted Process, and Proven Success, SporActiv® Bacillus is effective in breaking down uric acid, paving the way for a cleaner, more hygienic space. SporActiv® Bacillus Research  At MDG, Real Science matters; it is our foundation. Discover the science behind SporActiv® Bacillus and its ability to persist on surfaces, continuously metabolizing uric acid long after application. Our findings, highlighted in our research document below, showcase the superior performance of SporActiv®. Ready to transform your customers’ bathroom maintenance routine? Get in touch with one of our experts to learn more about microbial based cleaning solutions. CONTACT US    

Over the past decade, clean ingredient incentive groups worldwide have taken a hard look at manufacturers of products used for Industrial, Institutional, and Consumer (IIC) cleaning and the environmental impact these products elicit. Many commodity ingredients of the past decades have experienced a great deal of scrutiny and limitation in use as of late. Some of these may look familiar: Nonylphenol ethoxylates Phthalates Harsh caustics and acids Phosphates Harsh chemicals Silicates Solvents These are just a handful of types of ingredients that were formerly used in abundance but now have experienced restrictions by many environmentally conscious agencies. Manufacturers and distributors in the IIC sector are grappling with finding environmentally friendlier alternatives to these ingredients. There is a need for cleaning ingredients with a lower bioburden, to bridge the gap between the effective products of yesterday, and the cleaner products of tomorrow. Amidst the increasing restrictions on ingredients used in cleaning products, Bacillus has emerged as a unique and effective solution. To say that “Bacillus is biodegradable” is a gross underestimation of the power of Bacillus. Bacillus is the “Biodegrader”, excelling at addressing stains by digesting and eliminating organic materials at their source. In formulating cleaning products, it is worth considering laws and regulations regarding […]

When it comes to treating wastewater lagoons and ponds, our partners follow our full-service treatment approach that combines premier bioaugmentation products, step-by-step treatment programs, and in-field support. This unique combination creates a complete solution that brings real success to their customers – just like this real lagoon treatment story! BACKGROUND One of our distribution partners (DPs) was working with a beverage manufacturer who was utilizing evaporative wastewater holding ponds. Once a pond was filled, they allowed it to dry completely before excavating solids and refilling. A typical cycle included one month to fill the pond, followed by three months of drying. THE CHALLENGE: SLUDGE + ODOR Over some time, an issue arose when a persistent sludge cap formed on the surface of the water. This cap started preventing water from evaporating within their normal three-month cycle and it caused the pond to become anaerobic, releasing strong, unpleasant odors. THE SOLUTION: BIOTIFX® PRODUCTS + PROGRAMS By working with our technical service team and following the step-by-step Lagoon Treatment Program, our DP was able to determine WHERE, WHEN, and HOW MUCH of Biotifx® ULTRA was needed for treatment. Data was collected before, during, and after and included pictures of the sludge cap, basic water […]

No matter the application, treating wastewater is often like solving an intricate puzzle. Getting all the pieces to fit together takes the right combination of knowledge, experience, and having cold, hard data by your side. To keep it simple, we’ve outlined THREE ways our technical support team can help you (and your customers) succeed in your next wastewater treatment application: Is this the Right Opportunity? Don’t waste your time! Make sure you start by asking questions and taking system survey measurements based on the type of system you’re looking to treat. Once you have a clear picture of the environment, you’ll know if you have an opportunity that’s a good fit. Our technical support team at MDG makes it easy to gather these measurements upfront with industry-specific programs. We make sure you’ll know the right questions to ask in different scenarios, so beyond gathering technical data, you’re looking at the monetary values around how a facility is currently operating (i.e.: chemical usage, hauling costs, physical removal, etc.). All of this information will help you demonstrate the full financial impact of bringing in bioaugmentation. Creating a Successful Treatment Plan Once you’ve found an opportunity where bioaugmentation can be the hero, you’ll need to […]

Bacillus are capable of using many types of organic material as a source of energy, and they are very good at adapting their metabolic processes to use whatever energy source is nearby. When sufficient nutrients are available, Bacillus will continually multiply. This is known as exponential growth. Figure 1. Growth of Bacillus when one energy source is available They will continue to grow until their preferred food source is exhausted. Then they will change their metabolic machinery and start using a different food source. During this metabolic shift, there will be a brief pause in growth while the Bacillus make the necessary changes; such as producing different enzymes. After this pause, exponential growth will resume. This process will repeat until all available nutrients have been exhausted. This characteristic of Bacillus makes it a sought-after ingredient in Industrial and Institutional products as Bacillus will continue to work until it has adapted to and utilized all available wastes. Figure 2. Growth of Bacillus when multiple volatile fatty acids are available Bacillus’ ability to grow exponentially in the presence of a food source was demonstrated in the following in-house study. This study measured SporActiv® Bacillus utilization of odor causing volatile fatty acids (VFAs). When one food source was available, Bacillus grew exponentially until that food source was depleted (Figure […]

When organic waste breaks down, it can generate ammonia, which is a toxic substance that produces a foul, sharp odor. In the Industrial and Institutional (I&I) market, your customers walk past ammonia-causing matter daily, such as food, animal and human waste. These same wastes contain materials that are rich in nitrogen. As the waste decomposes, the nitrogen is converted to ammonia, causing an unpleasant odor. But, without nitrogen, there’s no ammonia… and that’s where Bacillus come into play. All living organisms need a source of nitrogen to support life, including Bacillus. Bacillus strains can utilize the nitrogen in ammonia for bacterial growth. In order to get the nitrogen, Bacillus digest the available ammonia, removing it from the environment and preventing odor. RESULTS In the case of our SporActiv® products, we specifically selected strains of Bacillus that have high ammonia utilizing capabilities. The more ammonia that is utilized by the Bacillus means less complaints and foul smells. At MDG, a study was conducted to measure the growth of SporActiv® FOUNDATION in the presence of ammonia. When ammonia was present, there was more bacterial growth, indicating the Bacillus were able to utilize the ammonia nitrogen to support growth (Figure 1). When choosing a Bacillus product, you should also keep in mind that not all Bacillus are able to […]