FAQ

What is Bioremediation?

Bioremediation is the process of using naturally occurring, safe and beneficial microorganisms to degrade environmentally harmful contaminants and turn them into non-toxic compounds. In particular, these organisms will break down most petroleum hydrocarbons. The process of bioremediation is listed as one of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) innovative technologies. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioremediation

What are the advantages of bioremediation? Is it a green method for removing oil and fuel contamination?

Bioremediation is an attractive option for the remediation of hydrocarbon contaminants. The following are a few of the advantages and reasons why you should consider using Oil Gone Easy S-200:

• The process is an ecologically safe and natural process. It is "nature's way" of solving contamination problems.
• Bioremediation is cost effective. The process is generally 60 - 70% less costly than other technologies.
• Little disruption of surrounding, non-contaminated areas.
• Can remediate areas that are not easily accessible or are inaccessible to other technologies (soil, boat bilges)
• Bioremediation can be accomplished in-place (In Situ) thereby eliminating the hazard of off site contamination caused by digging, hauling and transporting contaminants to other areas.
• Air quality and air pollution concerns from volatile chemical evaporation are eliminated.
• After bioremediation is completed, the environment is virtually restored to its pristine condition.
• The process poses no health or safety risks.

Is bioremediation recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency?

According to EPA Publication 64O/k-93/002: 'The United States is the world leader in field implementation of bioremediation, an attractive alternative to conventional methods of cleaning up persistent hazardous wastes in the environment.' It goes on to state, 'The potential use of bioremediation technologies is significant, as federal and state governments, private industry and others responsible for environmental cleanup efforts add it to their arsenals of methods for environmental reclamation.'

Why is Oil Gone Easy the Best Product on the Market?

• Oil Gone Easy S-200 is an effective and environmentally safe option for removing oil or fuel spills from your driveway, garage, soil or boat's bilge.
• Oil Gone Easy S-200 is on the EPA's National Contingency Plan Product Schedule. Therefore it can be used at home, on boats and on the shorelines and waters of the United States.
• The product does NOT introduce 'foreign bacteria' to the ecosystem.
• Unlike other remediation products, our products require no special solutions, no special mixing and no waiting period before application.
• The simple act of spraying Oil Gone Easy S-200 to on the hydrocarbon spill or leak activates the product and starts growing the indigenous, hydrocarbon degrading bacteria population.
• Oil Gone Easy S-200 is easy to use.
• Oil Gone Easy S-200 was developed to bring the innovative technology of bioremediation into everyday use.
• It is the only technology needed to solve your hydrocarbon contamination problems from the past and prevent those problems in the future.

Can Oil Gone Easy be used to clean up parking lots, gas stations, driveway stains?

Yes, for best results follow these 4 steps:

• remove all the debris from the area
• spray Oil Gone Easy using traditional liquid spraying equipment*
• wait for 3-4 hours or overnight
• power wash it off
  

*Oil Gone Easy can be sprayed with traditional liquid spraying equipment, such as: pressurized sprayers or backpack sprayers. The recommended application rate is approximately 1 to 1 by weight of Oil Gone Easy S-200 as compared to the hydrocarbon being remediated. In other words, use 1 pound of Oil Gone Easy S-200 for every 1 pound of hydrocarbon you are remediating.

Can Oil Gone Easy be used to remove oil stains on garage floors prior to sealing them?

Yes, for best results follow these 5 steps:

• remove all the debris from the area
• spray Oil Gone Easy using traditional liquid spraying equipment
• wait for 3-4 hours or overnight
• power wash it off
• seal the floors when dry

Will Oil Gone Easy S-200 remove an old oil stain from concrete floor?

Yes, Oil Gone Easy Home & Driveway S-200 can eliminate even an old or weathered stain completely from a concrete surface. If the stain is deeply embedded in the surface and the first application of OGE did not resolve the issue in the first 14 days, re-apply the product again once more. OGE remains attached to the hydrocarbon until complete degradation to Co2 and water is achieved. For the oil stains that have been there for years it may take up to two months to completely biodegrade the hydrocarbon.

Can I use too much Oil Gone Easy S-200?

The ratio of Oil Gone Easy to be used in your site will depend on the quantity of hydrocarbon you have. The theoretical relation between C:N:P is 120:10:1. In the laboratory, and with optimal conditions for bioremediation, you will have to add 1 Kg of S-200 per 1 Kg of hydrocarbon contaminant. This 1:1 ratio can be increased if the conditions are not optimal. Nevertheless, if you apply more nothing bad will happen, as the fatty acid outer shell will protect the nutrients till it is attached to new contaminant.

Will Oil Gone Easy work on chlorinated contaminants?

Oil Gone Easy S-200 is an oleophilic fertilizer; therefore it will attach to the hydrocarbons and stimulate hydrocarbon microorganisms. Normally the bacteria that eat hydrocarbon are aerobic, therefore they need oxygen to live. What happens with chlorinated contaminants is that they do not biodegrade in an aerobic state and only degrade if the environment is anaerobic. We do not know of any microorganism that biodegrades chlorinated hydrocarbons anaerobically at a reasonable rate, but if you have these organisms in the contaminated area, Oil Gone Easy will work the same way as with aerobic bacteria.

Will the product impact the environment in any way?

Oil Gone Easy S-200 is 100% biodegradable; nothing will be left after the decontamination of the site. We have successfully passed very deep and detailed tests for toxicology on fresh and salt water. This together with the data from the EPA's bioremediation effectiveness test supports the EPA for the inclusion of our product as a Bioremediation Agent.

Will Oil Gone Easy S-200 biodegrade asphaltenes (molecular substances that are found in crude oil)?

YES! And not only in laboratory conditions. S-200 has been roughly tested in the bioremediation of the Prestige Spill (Spain, 2002). After four months of 2 applications with S-200, the product was able to bioremediate 100% of fuel #6 covering the rocky shore. This was tested and concluded by Dr. Miguel Angel Murado from the Spanish Governmental Scientific Institution "CSIC-IIM of Vigo" See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphaltene

What kind of bacteria grow when Oil Gone Easy S-200 is applied?

Oil Gone Easy S-200 will stimulate specific hydrocarbon eating microorganisms. It will activate the indigenous microorganisms which can vary depending on the site and conditions. Our experience has shown that in winter and summer the type of microorganisms are different; in each season the most adapted for that climate are present in larger populations. With Oil Gone Easy S-200, not only one specific bacterium grows, but a wide range of hydrocarbon digesters. This consortium also makes different hydrocarbon chains degradable and together creates the right mix to biodegraded all the contaminant present.

Will Oil Gone Easy S-200 change the pH of ground water?

Oil Gone Easy S-200 has a pH between 6.8 and 7.0 and will not change the pH of the groundwater.

Is any special disposal required after using Oil Gone Easy S-200?

Oil Gone Easy S-200 is a 100% biodegradable liquid product that is applied to any surface or water. There is no need to dispose of waste.

How long will Oil Gone Easy S-200 take to clean up my oil contamination?

The duration of the cleanup is very difficult to predict with accuracy due to uncertainty about type of micro organisms present, mass of contaminant, temperature, etc... Bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminants via S-200 is a less costly, less intrusive, and a more organic remedial alternative that may take longer compared to an expensive, highly-engineered, physical or chemical treatment method with a well defined schedule. For the cleaning of boat bilges, the product will work for months remediating oil and fuel contamination.

Will Oil Gone Easy S-200 dissolve in water?

Oil Gone Easy S-200 is totally miscible (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscible) in water. You can dissolve S-200 in non chlorate water to get a better dispersion of the product on soil or groundwater.

When I apply Oil Gone Easy S-200 to contaminated water (such as a dirty boat bilge), I see a layer on the surface. Is this normal?

When S-200 gets in contact with the contaminant it adheres to it, agglomerates the material and creates a wax like gel. This gel floats on the surface of the water allowing the aerobic degradation of the hydrocarbon to occur.

How much Oil Gone Easy Marine S-200 should I apply to my boat bilge?

A one quart bottle will remediate the bilge of a boat approximately 25 feet long for months. Empty the contents of the bottle into the access points of the bilge. The normal rocking action of the boat in the water will disperse the material throughout the bilge area. Boats larger than 28 feet in length generally require two quarts. Re-apply every two months while the boat is in the water. To maintain the bilge during winter storage, pour into the area before storage. Repeat the process during pre-season maintenance. Discharge bilge water in accordance will all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Please note that an excessively polluted bilge may require an additional application. Please see the Product Details page for more information.