Q. What is an enzyme?
A. An enzyme is a protein molecule, which can act as a catalyst of various biochemical reactions. Enzymes are a fundamental cellular metabolism; they can also be isolated and used in many industrial and domestic processes. Enzymatic activity is very specific. An enzyme, which solubilizes a specific protein, may not work on another - certainly not on grease.

Q. Can enzymes be used in wastewater treatment?
A. Yes, enzymes can be used to solubilize solids such as sludge or grease. There are two major classes of enzymes with respect to wastewater treatment:

•  Extracellular enzymes, which are liberated into the water and are not  attached to microbial cells; and,
•  Exoenzymes, which are associated with the exterior of the microbial  cell wall. Exoenzymes are often more efficient than those not  connected to the microbial cell.

Q. Do enzymes work for extended periods of time?
A. No, activity of free enzymes can be quickly depleted. Beneficial microbes, however, in Bacta-Pur® biotechnologies have been selected for their ability to both produce and supply essential biochemical requirements of enzymes. Enzymes do not reproduce; microbes do.

Q. What are the byproducts of enzymatic activity in grease traps?
A. This depends on the types of quantities of enzymes added. Theoretically, they have the ability to convert all the grease into free fatty acids. This rearely occurs, however, do to depletion of enzymatic activity. If the treatment is not complete, partially digested grease may leave the grease trap.

Q. Does the addition of enzymes provide any benefit beyond clearing the grease trap in the pipes?
A. Not likely, huge amounts of enzymes would have to be added, to firswt solubilize all of the grease in the grease trap and still maintain enzymatic activity. A key to any treatment is cost-effectiveness. Bacta-Pur® BACTIVATORs were designed to provide the most cost-effective treatment not only of grease traps but also of the downstream drain lines.

Q. What is the difference between adding enzymes and Bacta-Pur® biotechnologies?
A. Enzymes alone can be rapidly inactivated. Bacta-Pur® XLG provides microbes, which are not only enzyme factories, but the exoenzymes produced by the beneficial microbes are reactivated by the living cells. Furthermore, the grease and sludge digesting ability of the Bacta-Pur® microbes continue beyond the grease trap to clean pipes and drains.

Q. Can Bacta-Pur decrease methane or hydrogen sulfide in drains and sewers?
A. Yes, absolutely, Bacta-Pur® biotechnologies actually reduce methane and hydrogen sulfide. Methane and sulfides are produced by microboes, which can grow only in the complete absence of oxygen; they can actually be harmed or even killed by oxygen; they can actually be harmed or even killed by oxygen. This occurs in sewers, principally in grease and sludge accumulations, rather than in the water (particularly for methane). Regular use of Bacta-Pur® removes the grease and sludge accumulations thus removing the habitat of the trouble causing microorganisms. In addition to this, removal of scum and grease from the surface of the water brings the water into contact with the air and allows greater diffusion of oxygen into the water. This accomplishes two additional tasks:

1. The oxygen accelerates biodegradation of soluble wastes into carbon dioxide and water.
2. The oxygen also raises the redox potential, thus inhibiting the production of both methane and hydrogen sulfide.

Furthermore, regular use of Bacta-Pur® such as with a Bacta-Pur® BACTIVATOR floods the wastewater with the highest concentration of beneficial microbes, which have no ability to produce methane. Recent studies as reported in the literature, have shown that bacterial augmentation can reduce undesirable microbes (e.g., odor causing strains and pathogens) in aquatic systems by the combined pressures of predation and addition of high concentrations of beneficial strains. Bacta-Pur® biotechnologies were developed to provide at least 10 cells/ml. Regular additions provide the high numbers of beneficial microbes.

Q. What are the byproducts of treatment with Bacta-Pur® XLG in the grease traps?