Archives: Case Studies

Organica Biotech Pvt. Ltd., in its endeavor, to contribute to the well-being of our planet; equipped with its in-house team of scientists, has developed solutions that solve day-to-day problems by using products that are sustainable across different verticals, be it wastewater effluent treatment, sanitation, agriculture, aquaculture, and hygiene solutions.

In its pursuit of developing breakthrough technologies, OB Care Professional Hygiene Solutions have been conceptualized to promote the health & safety of employees and protect fixtures & property whilst being 100% environment friendly.

The Case:

A reputed commercial bank, as part of its corporate policy of Sustainable Programme that included “Saving Water” implemented a series of initiatives to meet its objective.

The team identified all areas where water was being used and implemented several techniques to consume less water. It started with changing the nozzles of all taps, which would in turn dispense less water, thereby reducing consumption. To further reduce undue wastage, infrared sensor taps were installed in all wash basins.

The other area of major water consumption was in the male washroom urinals. The team installed waterless urinals with a cartridge system to save water in these urinals. All the initiatives taken helped curtail water consumption.

However, as time passed, the waterless urinals started emitting a foul odor. To combat foul odor, they installed air freshener dispensers, used aerosol sprays, and washroom air fresheners; within and outside the washrooms. Many fragrances were introduced to get rid of odor, but they also increased their expenses and caused indoor pollution due to harmful VOCs being emitted by these fragrances. They also realized that the urinal drain lines were getting clogged due to uric acid deposit build-up in the pipelines. This normally happens when using cartridge-based waterless urinals, leading to the urinal residue remaining in pipelines due to the absence of water.

OB Care channel partner was approached to resolve this, and he advised them to implement OB Care Water Saving Solutions to help solve the problems they were facing.

The Solution:

OB Care team inspected the washrooms and also understood the existing cleaning SOP and the waterless mechanisms. The bank was advised to implement OB Care FlushFree™ Urinal Care Program. OB Care Water Saving Solutions comprises FlushFree™ Urinal Spray and Urinal Drain Cleaner, which are the main products, and Washroom Cleaner & Odour Eliminator and Toilet Bowl Cleaner as supportive products.

OB Care FlushFree™ Urinal Care Program is designed to convert any urinal into waterless without the need to engage in expensive hardware changes.

Our FlushFree technology is carefully designed to neutralize urine residue using a scientific concoction of plant-derived medicinal oils and highly effective enzymes that break down urine residue at all the sites of accumulation, thereby eliminating odor at its source. Our proprietary plant-derived surfactant blend ensures 99.9% germ removal and 24×7 maintenance of hygiene.

As a pilot, they tried our products in a single washroom having 6 urinals, for 15 days. Our team continued to visit the bank to ensure that the SOP was followed as per norms.

After about 6 -7 days, clogging issues were solved. Also, the odor emanating from the drains stopped, and they were not required to use fragrances to control the odor. They were happy and satisfied as the problem was solved.

The Result:

Our FlushFree™ Urinal Care Program has enabled cost reduction by avoiding the expensive infrastructure of waterless urinals that are hard to maintain and have failed to solve odor problem and clogging issues; thus, enabling a pleasant washroom experience that is tackled without the use of harsh chemicals from air fresheners.

After the pilot of 15 days, we handed over all the remaining washrooms to implement the same program.

In Conclusion:

OB Care is natural & safe for a greener environment. Certified by ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, Tested by NABL Accredited Lab, DSIR Approved In-House R&D, GMP Certified.

We have successfully implemented our Water Saving Solutions in corporate offices, malls, banquets, schools, and colleges.

Embrace OB Care Kitchen Drain Cleaner and Bioclean Septic Plus for hassle-free maintenance of your commercial kitchen drain lines & grease traps.

Challenges in maintaining clear drain lines and grease traps in commercial kitchens.

Kitchens are indispensable; be it in households, restaurants, hotels or industrial kitchens.

However, maintaining them in commercial enterprises can be challenging. Kitchen sinks, drain lines & grease traps get frequently clogged due to the accumulation of Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG), leading to overflow and odour emanation.

We, at Organica Biotech, understood this problem and conceptualised advanced 360° grease-cutting solutions for FOG accumulators i.e. kitchen sinks and grease traps. Our solution for kitchen drain and grease traps is capable of eliminating the toughest of FOG residues and helps maintain fresh & hygienic indoor utilities.

Presented below is a case study on how our products were used in a reputed 5-Star Hotel which was facing multiple issues of drain line and grease trap clogging.

The Case:

A reputed 5-Star Hotel in Varanasi was facing severe clogging issues. The Maintenance Engineer called us for a solution to his drain pipelines problem and grease trap. He had read about biologically mediated FOG elimination and reached us on our website page and connected with our experts.

The OB Care team was given to understand that the drain clogging was happening every 10-15 days and they tried removing the clogs 2-3 times manually. The grease trap also had to be cleaned every second day. There was a lot of odour and that was sometimes leading to a backflow onto the kitchen floors.

The Solution:

We advised them to use OB Care Kitchen Drain Cleaner in all the sinks & Bioclean Septic Plus in the Grease Trap.

• OB Care Kitchen Drain Cleaner actively prevents food and slime accumulation in kitchen sink drains, preventing clogging.
• Bioclean Septic Plus ensures the powerful degradation of Fats, Oil and Grease in grease traps, keeping them odour free.

Our Dosage Suggestion & Application Process:

For Kitchen sink:

• OB Care Kitchen Drain Cleaner is to be poured into the sink after the cleaning process is completed, at night. After pouring this solution, no water or any other waste should be poured into the sink. The regular dose is 10g diluted in 500 ml water, good for up to 5 sinks.

• Based on our assessment, our client was suggested to dilute 50g of OB Care Kitchen Drain Cleaner in 3 litres of water and pour it uniformly across 20 sinks every night after cleaning.

For Grease Trap:

• Since the issue was severe, our client was required to clean the grease trap every 2 days which was very frequent. Our team based on the client’s needs devised an accelerated step-down dosage plan to normalise the grease trap functioning.
• For the first 15 days, post grease trap cleaning, every second day they were suggested to dose 50g of Bioclean Septic Plus mixed in 2 litres of water.
• After the initial 15 days of dosing, the cleaning came down to once in 7 days. The dose was fixed at 200g of Bioclean Septic Plus, once in 7 days. After one week, the grease trap needed cleaning after 15 days; and then subsequently reduced to once-a-month cleaning which is an optimum performance for any grease trap.
• Thereafter, the final maintenance dose was 1kg of Bioclean Septic Plus, every month, post-cleaning of the grease trap.

The Result:

After the 5-Star Hotel started following the above protocol, odour from kitchen sinks came down within one week of using OB Care Kitchen Drain Cleaner. The grease trap reached its optimum cleaning frequency of once a month. The Maintenance Engineer and his team were happy with the result, and he made it part of the kitchen cleaning SOP.

In Conclusion:

To prevent clogging of your kitchen drain and grease trap, we recommend a regular dose of OB Care Kitchen Drain Cleaner and Bioclean Septic Plus. Our enzyme-based formulations are highly effective on fats, oils, grease & other organic deposits in kitchen drains. They are non-corrosive and thereby safe for the drain lines.

We have successfully implemented OB Care Professional Kitchen Drain and Grease Trap Maintenance solutions in hotels, banquets and restaurants across India.

Organica Biotech Pvt. Ltd., founded in the year 2000, was started with a vision of developing sustainable products in the field of agriculture, aquaculture, wastewater management, sanitation, domestic/professional hygiene solutions and solid waste management.

Through its trailblazing approaches, the team has been continuously developing sustainable, innovative and future-ready solutions that continue to create a virtuous impact all across the globe.

Transcending our vision to save the earth’s limited resources, we identified water saving as a major goal. As part of the OB Care Professional range of products, we developed a Flushfree™ technology for urinals, the key highlight being that any urinal can be made waterless without making any structural changes to washrooms.

This solution has been successfully implemented at the Head Office of a reputed automobile company, based in Mumbai.

The Case:

The automobile giant, in its pursuit of going sustainable, installed waterless urinals with a cartridge mechanism. The cartridge mechanism has a non-returnable valve, this is one of the alternate methods of saving water in urinals. Unfortunately, they started facing washroom odour and to address the problem, they approached our Distributor.

Our Distributor visited the site and inspected their washrooms, as per our checklist. During the inspection, it was found that waterless urinal systems were not working properly. Besides this, there were no other plumbing issues.

It was concluded that the washroom odour was not because of plumbing issues but due to the installation of Waterless urinals with a cartridge system. Typically, in these kinds of mechanisms, urine residue builds up on the cistern walls and spills on the floor contributing to the washroom odour and creating an unpleasant atmosphere. While these systems do save water, the problem of odour persists and this has led to many institutions discarding the system.

Our Solution:

We recommended they use our OB Care Professional FlushFree™ Urinal Care Program. This Water Saving solution comprises a regular regime – FlushFree™ Urinal Spray and Urinal Drain Cleaner which is the main products and Washroom Cleaner & Odour Eliminator and Toilet Bowl Cleaner as supportive products.

Within the OB Care Professional range, we have a breakthrough product FlushFree™ Urinal Spray which converts any urinal into waterless without any hardware changes.

Our FlushFree technology is carefully designed to neutralise urine residue using a scientific concoction of plant-derived medicinal oils and highly effective enzymes that break down urine residue at all the sites of accumulation, thereby eliminating odour at its source. Our proprietary plant-derived surfactant blend ensures 99.9% germ removal and 24×7 maintenance of hygiene.

How does the FlushFree™ technology work?

It breaks down urine and dirt residue, thus shielding drain pipes and preventing clogging.
It prevents ammonia generation, thereby preventing odour issues.
It also prevents the growth of germs, hence preventing the spread of diseases.

Coupled with FlushFree™ technology, our Molecular Sponge Technology adsorbs and neutralises washroom odour thereby creating a pleasant experience.

As a pilot, they tried our products in a single washroom having 6 urinals, for 15 days.

During this time, our team trained the Janitors on how to use our products with a step-by-step application process.

Application Process:

Step 1 – Disconnect the water supply to the urinal bowl.
Step 2 – Clean the urinal and allow it to dry. You can use OB Care Professional Washroom Cleaner & Odour Eliminator or OB Care Professional Toilet Bowl Cleaner to clean the urinal.
Step 3 – Spray FlushFree™ Urinal Spray every 2-4 hours (as per washroom traffic) on the walls of the urinals and their surroundings.
Step 4 – Clean the urinal at the end of the day with OB Care Professional Washroom Cleaner & Odour Eliminator or OB Care Professional Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
Step 5 – Dilute 100ml of the Urinal Drain Cleaner in 1 litre of water.
Step 6 – Pour the diluted solution into each urinal once a week at the end of the day

Result:

After the pilot of 15 days, we handed over all the remaining washrooms to implement the same program.

In Conclusion:

OB Care Professional is natural & safe for a greener environment. Certified by ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, Tested by NABL Accredited Lab, DSIR Approved In-House R&D, GMP Certified.

We have successfully implemented our Water Saving Solutions in corporate offices, malls, banquets, schools and colleges.

Washroom odour is one of the top issues encountered by housekeeping services and corporates while maintaining public restrooms. One of the most common practices is to use strong air fresheners to mask the odour, albeit temporarily. While strong air fresheners do not solve the problem, they do cause unnecessary indoor pollution. 

Washroom odours are complex and in most cases, it could be due to reverse gases from uric acid scaling in sewage lines that accumulate over a while. Issues of this nature can never be masked but must be treated at the source.

The solution developed by Organica Biotech

For over two decades, Organica Biotech Pvt. Ltd. has been committed to building a sustainable future for the planet by tackling problems related to environmental pollution and waste management.

Its trailblazing approaches have led to the continuous development of sustainable, innovative and future-ready solutions. One such avenue has been the development of sustainable and 100% nature-derived hygiene solutions. One of their greatest breakthroughs has been developing a novel mechanism to treat washroom odour at the source. 

Its Washroom Odour Control Solutions are equipped with Molecular Sponge Technology™ a carefully designed blend of odour-neutralising plant-derived medicinal oils along with highly effective enzymes that act on odour molecules in two steps: Adsorption & Neutralisation.This solution has been adopted in many commercial establishments. Most recently, this was implemented at a reputed 750-bed Multi-Specialty Hospital located in the western suburbs of Mumbai.

About the Case:

This leading hospital chain was facing terrible washroom odour issues and the housekeeping team was trying hard to resolve the same. Over 3 months the team at the hospital tried multiple interventions like the installation of fragrance diffusers, drain unclogging and chemical cleaning of drain lines. Eventually, none of these addressed the issue of stinking washrooms. 

The Admin team contacted the OB Care Professional team and asked for a solution to the problem. The team from OB Care Professional inspected the washrooms and identified the following areas that could be contributing to the washroom odour:

1. Foul reverse gases from the nahani trap.
2. The STP-treated water being used in the flush systems was improperly treated and had a bad odour.
3. The smell from urinal drains.
4. Clogging issues in urinal drain lines.
5. Exhaust issues in a few washrooms.

The principal cause for poor washroom ambience was due to the reverse gases that were coming from the nahani trap and the urinal drain lines. This odour intensified with urine spills and inadequately treated STP water being used in the washroom. 

The Solution:

To resolve the issue, the OB Care Professional team recommended the following protocol:

Principal products:

1) OB Care Professional FlushFree™ Urinal Spray – To be sprayed every 2 hours on urinals and surrounding areas.

Benefit – OB Care Professional FlushFree™ Urinal Spray helps in preventing the emanation of the foul odour from urinal walls and drain lines. 

2) OB Care Professional Urinal Drain Cleaner – To be used end of every day for one week, and then once every week.

Benefit – OB Care Professional Urinal Drain Cleaner breaks down uric acid deposits on the internal walls of pipelines.

3) OB Care Professional Toilet Bowl Cleaner –To be used instead of a chemical-based toilet cleaner.

Benefit – OB Care Professional Toilet Bowl Cleaner cleans efficiently without causing micro-erosions on your toilet bowl and urinal surface, unlike chemical cleaners, thus preventing the formation of safe havens for odour-causing germs

4) OB Care Professional Washroom Cleaner & Odour Eliminator – For cleaning washroom floors and other sanitaryware.

Benefit – OB Care Professional Washroom Cleaner & Odour Eliminator provides a deep and thorough cleaning with its potent enzymatic blend, leaving your washroom floors with a sparkle and lasting shine.

The Test:

OB Care Professional team was given one washroom as a pilot and 4 weeks to solve the problem. Within the first 4 days, there was a marked change in the washroom atmosphere, the severe problem of the odour was reduced and within 15 days the washroom odour had been eliminated.

Result:

Since the pilot was successful, all the washrooms in the hospital started using OB Care Professional Washroom Odour Control Solutions. 

In Conclusion:

OB Care Professional Washroom Odour Control Solutions provide you with an end-to-end mechanism to eliminate odour-causing germs at source, with no change in maintenance protocols! Our Molecular Sponge Technology™ is a carefully designed blend of odour-neutralising plant-derived medicinal oils and highly effective enzymes that act on odour molecules in two steps: Adsorption and Neutralisation. They also prevent the colonisation of odour-causing germs, thereby covering all bases and making washroom maintenance a hassle-free experience. 
OB Care Professional Washroom Odour Control Solutions are designed to address the major sources of foul odours like:

• Urine and faecal spillage on floors
• Spread of urine/dirt via footwear on the floors
• Improper cleaning-damp mops/cloths 
• Crystallised uric acid, salts and scaling of drain pipes

OB Care Professional Washroom Odour Control Solutions are:

• Eco-friendly
• Natural plant-based
• pH neutral
• Equipped to eliminate the odour at the source
• Biodegradable
• Free from toxic VOCs
• STP safe
• Effective in keeping the drain line choke-free

OB Care Professional is natural & safe for a greener environment. They have been created in state-of-the-art DSIR-certified R&D laboratories and manufactured in ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 14001:2015 certified manufacturing units. OB Care Professional Hygiene Solutions are thoroughly third-party tested by NABL Accredited Laboratories. OB Care Professional Hygiene Solutions are proudly created in India and supplied all over the world. 

We have successfully implemented OB Care Professional Washroom Odour Control Solutions in corporate offices, malls, banquets, schools and colleges across India.

Oil pollution can cause soil contamination when petroleum products reach the soil through incidents of spills, leakages, or transportation.

It adversely affects the natural soil environment, disturbs the health of plants, and inhibits plant growth.

The degree of saturated hydrocarbons, volatile components, and aromatic compounds in oil makes it difficult to be degraded naturally in soil.

Effects of Oil Spill

• Oil spills cause destruction of the soil and make it unsuitable for agriculture.
• Properties like soil texture, pH, and moisture content of the soil are affected.
• A huge amount of oil spill can make the harmful compounds pass onto groundwater, nearby rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Thus, it can pollute drinking water and harm fish, birds, and animals.
• Oil Spills can cause health hazards to human beings.

It is, therefore, necessary to treat oil spills in soil and protect the environment.

Organica Biotech’s Bioclean FOG is a natural soil nutrient, available in powder form, which contains actively growing, specialized microbial strains that release specific enzymes.

It boosts the microbial activity in the soil and helps in effective oil degradation, resulting in by-products like carbon dioxide and water.

The following case study shows how Bioclean FOG is a powerful, cost-effective, and eco-friendly solution for the bioremediation of oil in the soil.

Case Study: How Bioclean FOG is the Best Solution

Challenge

One of our clients, Dilex Limited in Nigeria, was engaged by the Ogoni Restoration Project team of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria – SPDC.

The challenge was to use an environment-friendly approach for the remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted areas. The site located in B_Dere was previously used for artisanal refining.

The goal was the remediation of oil hydrocarbons to acceptable regulatory levels.

To achieve this goal, Dilex Ltd. used our product Bioclean FOG. Another objective of the project was to demonstrate the capability of Bioclean FOG.

Solution

How Bioclean FOG helped?

Bioclean FOG cleans up the oil in 3 steps:

• Bio-remediation – In this step, Bioclean FOG increases the activity of naturally occurring beneficial microbes in the soil, which in turn treat petroleum hydrocarbons and organic contaminants.
• Bio-degradation – The beneficial microbes degrade the complex hydrocarbons into simpler forms.
• Bio-augmentation – Further effective degradation is achieved by adding Bioclean FOG, which develops bio-population in the spillage area.

 

The following steps were followed to use Bioclean FOG in the affected site, which had a high amount of hydrocarbon in the soil.

• STEP 1– Soil Preparation

First, the contaminated soil with hydrocarbons was tilled to a depth of 5 meters. This was done to loosen the soil and allow the aeration process to take place, which in turn helped Bioclean FOG to be more effective.

Soil samples were collected after soil preparation, and initial Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons – TPH was noted.

• STEP 2 – Bioclean FOG Addition

Bioclean FOG was added to the soil along with a limited quantity of urea (Nitrogen) and NPK (Phosphate). In order to monitor the progression and effectiveness of bioremediation, TPH tests were conducted every 15 days, 30 days, or as specified by SPDC.

• STEP 3 – Excavation of Soil

The periodic turning of soil was done with an excavator to a depth of 5 meters. This, in turn, activated the enzymes which broke down the hydrocarbons effectively.

• STEP 4 – Water and Bioclean FOG Delivery

The activated enzyme solution of Bioclean FOG was pumped using a diesel pump or sprinkled on the soil. In the repeat processes, Bioclean FOG was again re-introduced using a diesel pump.

Results

1. The effectiveness of Bioclean FOG was immediately observed through a laboratory test of soil. The soil sample taken at different stages of the project was analysed. It showed a progressive reduction of hydrocarbons from the area which was heavily contaminated with hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon contamination was reduced to as low as reasonably practicable. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) content in the soil was brought from an initial maximum concentration of 35,283.20 mg/kg to a final concentration of 869 mg/kg.
2. After two weeks of the final application of Bioclean FOG, rapidly growing grass was observed on the project site.

The results proved the effectiveness of Bioclean FOG for oil spills and bioremediation of soil contamination.

It is, therefore, recommended for faster, more efficient, environment-friendly, and cost-effective treatment for oil spills in land areas and as a solution to protect the environment.

• Also read: Bioremediation Of Soil Using Microorganisms And Cleaning the Environment.
• Also read: How To Remediate Oil-Contaminated Soil
• Also read: Oil Spill In Mauritius And The Bioremediation Solution

Background

This industry located in the heart of Maharashtra is a leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients like Aripiprazole Intermediates & Montelukast Intermediates.

The operating engineers of this industry were perturbed by surging COD and TDS levels.

This industry used ready biomass from the pharmaceutical industry for reducing effluent parameters.

However, it was incompetent at treating wastewater, which could not meet the MPCB (Maharashtra Pollution Control Board) guidelines.

The Initial Approach and Challenges:

After a complete study of the plant through questionnaire an On-site visit, and discussion EHS team, our expert understood numerous challenges to be addressed: –

Key issues

• High COD levels
• Elevated TDS level
• Poor Biomass formation

Treatability Study:

Before planning a treatment scheme, it was crucial to perform a treatability study in order to understand the wastewater characteristics and devise an appropriate treatment regime specific to their effluent.

Organica’s unique wastewater treatability study, “BioSure,” is a laboratory-scale trial that confirms the suitability of the bacterial consortium present in our product and their development in the effluent.

These trial reports cannot be related to the actual product performance on a plant scale but can only provide a clear indication of whether given microbes are capable of growing in such a high TDS without compromising the reduction of pollutants in the effluent.

Microscopic analysis reports of the sample revealed satisfactory growth and development of our microbes in the effluent.

After this study, we decided to go with a treatment regime using Cleanmaxx

CleanMaxx: One-stop solution for all wastewater treatment needs.

Our team of researchers has developed this unique biotech formulation, CleanMaxx, which has proven to be extremely beneficial in solving the most challenging wastewater problems over the years.

CleanMaxx is a consortium of beneficial and robust microbes isolated from nature.

The microbes secrete effective enzymes which are completely natural and safe for humans, plants, and animals.

These microbes are very efficient in degrading organic, refractory wastewater pollutants even under high TDS.

Our team of experts planned to move ahead strategically for maintaining transparency between us and the industry regarding the course of action.

Initially, there was a laboratory-scale study, followed by a pilot plant study for building their confidence in our technology, and finally, the treatment was implemented on the actual wastewater treatment plant.

Observations:

We observed steady growth in MLSS levels over a period of 1 month (Table 2), Increased MLSS levels directly helped in reducing outlet COD from 1246 ppm to 226 ppm over a period of 1 month (Table 1). 

COD/BOD Reduction:

Table 1 – Reduction in COD levels observed after CleanMaxx application

Table 2 – MLSS Development during commissioning

Table 3 – Final reduction after biological treatment

Result:

1. We observed a COD reduction of 81.86%.
2. Desired MLVSS: MLSS ratio of 0.7 was achieved.
   

Conclusion:

After using our product, the efficiency of this industry’s Effluent Treatment Plant improved tremendously.

The overall plant was stabilized quickly, and the outlet parameters met the norms of the Pollution Control Board successfully.

• Name: Suphannika Saetang
• Region: Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Farm Name: Saetang Tilapia Farm

Suphannika Saetang runs a family-owned tilapia farm in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Like many aquaculture farmers, she faced the challenge of maintaining good water quality in her fish ponds.

Poor water quality can lead to low survival rates, stunted growth, and disease outbreaks, which can ultimately result in economic losses.

To address these challenges, Suphannika started using Bioclean Aqua Fish, a probiotic product specifically designed for aquaculture water.

Suphannika applied Bioclean Aqua Fish in her tilapia ponds at a rate of 1 kilogram per acre of water every two weeks.

After two months of using Bioclean Aqua Fish, she noticed significant improvements in water quality and fish health.

The results are shown below:

Parameter	Before	After	% Change
Ammonia Level	2.5 ppm	0.5 ppm	80% reduction
Survival Rate	75%	90%	20% improvement
Dissolved Oxygen Level	5 ppm	7 ppm	40% increase

 

The reduction in ammonia levels was particularly impressive, as high levels of ammonia can be toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms.

The increase in dissolved oxygen levels also helped to create a healthier environment for the fish. Overall, Suphannika was pleased with the results of using Bioclean Aqua Fish in her tilapia ponds.

She observed healthier and more active fish, and the higher survival rate resulted in increased profits for her farm.

Suphannika plans to continue using Bioclean Aqua Fish to maintain good water quality and improve the health of her fish.

Unsanitary conditions are responsible for more than three million deaths per year. In developing countries, improper sanitation is a significant reason for spreading infections.

The sludge produced has a high level of pathogens and low nutrition levels. Sludge management plays a vital role in sanitation programs by reducing health problems and associated risks.

Sewage sludge is obtained from wastewater treatment in sewage treatment plants. This sludge consists of two forms- sewage sludge and secondary sludge, also known as activated sludge in the activated sludge treatment plant.

Municipal sewage sludge usually consists of solid, semi-solid, or liquid muddy residue. This sludge contains proteins, sugars, detergents, phenols, lipids, and toxic and hazardous organic and inorganic pollutants.

Sewage is a combination of domestic and industrial waste. It is produced by residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial structures. Sludge has semi-solid slurry consistency and can be produced as sewage sludge from wastewater treatment processes.

The sludge consists of a wide range of harmful substances such as dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, absorbed and extracted chlorine derivatives, polycyclic aromatic derivatives hydrocarbons, phenols and their derivatives, phthalate, and others.

How to Manage Sludge Sustainably?

Some conventional methods of managing sludge after the treatment were using sludge in agriculture and for other land uses. However, it is restricted because of the environmental health risks involved.

Two factors to consider for sustainable sludge management are:

1. It should maximize the recovery benefits by consuming less energy.
2. It can be an economical and effective, innovative method or operational system.

To understand the most potent method for sustainable management of sludge, it is essential to know its composition and characteristics.

Understanding Sludge Characteristics

Five groups of components mainly characterize the sludge composition.

1. Non-toxic organic carbon compounds, Kjeldahl-N, phosphorous-containing components.
2. Toxic pollutants: *Heavy metals, such as Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd, Eg, and As.

The concentrations can vary from more than 1000 ppm to less than 1 ppm.

Other toxic pollutants are PCBs, PAHs, dioxins, pesticides, endocrine disrupters, linear-alkyl-sulfonates, nonyl-phenols, etc.

1. Pathogens and other microbial pollutants.
2. Inorganic compounds such as silicates, aluminates, calcium, and magnesium-containing compounds.
3. Water, varying from a few percent to more than ninety-five percent.

The fundamental problem of the sludge is that all these compounds are present in one mixture. Organic carbon, phosphorous, and nitrogen-containing compounds are valuable compounds.

Sustainable treatment involves the recovery of these useful products. Kjeldahl-N is primarily present as ammonia, a potential fertilizer component.

In modern wastewater treatment systems, most of the Kjeldahl-N is destructed, using a certain amount of valuable organic carbon compounds in the wastewater. In some cases, water is discarded for ease of transportation or efficient treatment of sludge.

Some of the primary treatment options that can be considered as an initial step to managing the sludge problem sustainably are:

• Improving the quality of sludge 

This approach eliminates toxic substances from sludge. For example, if the sludge contains a high concentration of heavy metals, it can be treated either biologically or with the help of chemical leaching to obtain high-quality sludge.

Other extractions and selective oxidation processes are used if the sludge is polluted with pathogens.

• Utilizing valuable compounds present in sludge

It is another treatment option that can be considered to manage sludge sustainably. Sludge can be used to produce fuel or feedstock in the form of diesel, oil, or gas.

Some other ways to use sludge would be the production of slags, bricks, and volatile acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acids. This can be achieved by microbiological processes.

• Reducing the total volume of sludge

Many processes are followed to reduce the sludge. Some of the methods mentioned earlier are removing heavy metals, removing pathogens, and utilizing organic/inorganic compounds to reduce the overall volume of the sludge.

One of the most effective ways to reduce sludge in the wastewater treatment plant is using our bioremediation technology, Cleanmaxx.

Our product contains a specialized, concentrated consortium of uniquely functional bacteria with a high proliferative capacity and tenacity to withstand hostile effluent waters.

It rapidly reduces organic load, reducing sludge volumes in a wastewater treatment plant.

Some of the key benefits of Cleanmaxx are: 

1. Reduces COD/BOD levels even in effluents with high TDS levels and recalcitrant compounds.
2. Promotes a high rapid biomass generation capacity in aerobic wastewater treatment.
3. Reduces sludge volumes without making any physical change in the current system.

Our wastewater technology makes sludge management sustainable without causing environmental side effects. To know more about our bioremediation technology, you can reach out to our experts at

ka*******@or*************.com











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Cotton, one of the most miraculous fibers under the sun is noted for its appearance, performance and more importantly, its versatility.

Right from Astronaut suits to sheets and towels in our homes – Cotton is literally everywhere and has maintained its place as the nature’s quintessential wonder in this fast moving world.

Millions of hectares are globally devoted to the production of cotton and its many varieties.

It is one of the most important crops of India, which contributes heavily to the agricultural and industrial economy of the country.

It provides income opportunities to millions of farmers and people working in the cotton processing field.

Globally, India is the third-largest producer of cotton after the US and China and accounts for 16% of cotton production worldwide.

Major cotton-growing states include Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Among the nine Indian states, Maharashtra accounts for the largest land area under cotton cultivation.

Clothing 10 Billion People by 2050

By 2050, the world will have to clothe 10 billion human beings. This daunting task lies squarely on the shoulders of natural fibre growers around the world.

Organica Biotech has recognised this challenge and devised sustainable strategies to address the problems that plague cotton agriculture sector today.

Cotton, being a long-duration crop, is fraught with issues related to climate change, rising production costs, and excessive chemical input usage, which have led to poor productivity and lowered resistance to stresses.

With the help of our sustainable and cost-effective technologies, Organica Biotech helps farmers across the world ensure better cotton yields.

We do this by equipping farmers with sustainable solutions to:

1. Optimize natural nutrient assimilation mechanisms in cotton
2. Accelerate crop metabolism, and finally
3. Bolster immunity against biotic and abiotic stress.

Case Study – MagicGro – Pixie Dust For Vidarbha

The following case study shows how Organica Biotech’s Magic Gro Drip SOL and Magic Gro Super products played an instrumental role in improving the cotton crop yield at different places of the Vidarbha region in Maharashtra in 2018.

A detailed scientific trial was undertaken by Organica Biotech in association with the Convergence of Agriculture Interventions in Maharashtra (CAIM), which works for the welfare of the farmers, helps increase their income, and ensures agricultural productivity along with sustainability.

Organica Biotech’s Magic Gro products were used at 7 talukas of Yavatmal and Buldhana districts.

This project focused on agricultural interventions for cotton and was recognized by the SKOCH Group for the Green Revolution Awards in 2018.

Challenges

In the year 2017, the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra was massively affected due to drought. A dry spell of more than a month led to unproductive cultivation, and thus, the farming community suffered huge losses.

Objectives

The main objectives of the project were to observe and derive results of the treated and untreated segments of the farm concerning biometric parameters of cotton, the difference in yield between treated and untreated segments of the farm, quality parameters, and cost-benefit analysis of cotton cultivation.

How Magic Gro Products Help?

Cotton is a Kharif crop cultivated during the monsoon season and requires 6 to 8 months to mature. Also, more than 90% of the area under cotton cultivation is rainfed.

However, the changing weather patterns have affected cotton cultivation. Consequently, it has impacted farmer income.

This is where Magic Gro Dripsol and Magic Gro Super helped. The tailor-made microbial consortia are specially designed to enhance the plant microbiome and combat the factors affecting cotton yield.

A plant microbiome is a dynamic community of microbial species associated with plant roots and surfaces (like leaves).

The role of the microbiome of a cotton plant is primarily to assimilate nutrients into the plant and build immunity.

However, a destabilized plant microbiome exposes it to nutritional and environmental stress, leaving it susceptible to pest and disease attacks. Organica Biotech Magic Gro products help cotton crops in the following ways:-

• Enhances the photosynthetic activity and helps plants to tide over abiotic   stress
• Builds immunity against biotic stress
• Aids in faster and early vegetative growth
• Increases the number and rate of square formation
• Supports the formation of more bolls per plant early
• Improves flower and fruit setting
•  Reduces flowers and fruit drop
• Helps in the prevention of lalya rog

Results

Magic Gro Drip SOL was applied through drip irrigation/drenching, while Magic Gro Super was applied via foliar application. After their application, the following results were found:

Biometric Parameters of Cotton

• 22% rise in average plant height
• 35% rise in lateral branching
• 91% rise in the number of squares
• 33% rise in leaf colour intensity

Quality of Harvest

The quality of cotton remained uncompromised throughout the farm was assessed by the Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT).

Lower branches were found to be longer, thereby contributing to improved photosynthetic efficiency and a higher number of squares per branch.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

There was a 47% increase in income from treated farms compared to untreated ones.

The results proved the efficacy of the Magic Gro range of products from Organica Biotech for boosting cotton crop yield in the Vidarbha region in Maharashtra.

Impact of Microbiome Replenishment Technology On Cotton

Our pioneering Microbiome Replenishment Technologies harnesses the power of nature and biotechnology to restore cotton plant and soil microbiology.

Read on to find out how adopting our Magicgro programme can benefit your cotton crop.

Growth Phase	Biometric Parameters
Vegetative Phase	Improvement in germination  & reduction in the need for gap-filling
	Increase in height of plant & fruiting branches –
	Increase in primary & secondary root branching
	Increase in square formation
	Increase in chlorophyll content index
Reproductive Phase	Decrease in square droppings
	Increase in the number of  bolls & single boll weight

 

Chemical Input Requirement & Disease Pressure

Decrease in intensity of pest and disease attack.

 

Productivity and Quality Parameters

Increase in yields

Easier cotton picking – improved labour efficiency

More mature, trash-free, and clean cotton

Improvement in cotton lint quality & staple length

Farmers received higher selling rate

We have partnered with thousands of farmers across India and the world. Join hands with us to make a lasting impact on your cotton-growing journey today.

Also Read:

• Pink Bollworm Epidemic Leaves Cotton Farmers in Despair
• Increasing Ratoon Cotton Productivity With Advanced Biotechnology

Rice is the staple food of over half the world’s population and is cultivated over a global area of 165 million hectares.

Therefore, crop failures and lower productivity due to climate change pose a looming threat of starvation and food security, especially in developing countries.

By 2050, the world will have to feed more than 10 billion human beings. Organica Biotech has recognized this challenge and devised sustainable strategies to address the problems that plague the rice agriculture sector today.

As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, we have worked closely with the tribal farmers of Madhya Pradesh in an effort to improve their rice yield and secure a better future for them.

Doubling Basmati Farmers’ Income in drought-stricken Madhya Pradesh

In 2017, Organica Biotech Pvt Ltd. initiated trials on Basmati grown organically in the Mandala, Kotma, and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India.

These trials were carried out with the support of Action for Social Advancement (ASA), an NGO operating primarily in Madhya Pradesh.

The objective of the project initiated by Organica Biotech Pvt. Ltd. was to:

1. To provide a natural, organic, holistic, cost-effective, sustainable solution to boost fertility and improve yields for rice cultivation in Madhya Pradesh
2. To alleviate stress on crops caused by biotic & abiotic factors
3. To improve the socio-economic status of the farmer by improving crop productivity

Why Basmati?

Basmati rice is unique among other aromatic long-grain rice varieties. Agro-climatic conditions of the specific geographical area, as well as the method of harvesting, processing, and aging, attribute these characteristic features to Basmati rice.

Owing to its unique characteristics, the “scented Pearl” lends a touch of class that can transform even the most ordinary meal into a gourmet delight. Due to its superior taste, aroma, and quality, Basmati commands a selling rate head and shoulders above all other rice varieties in India today.

This helps the financial growth of our farmers.

Nearly 20 plots growing PB1 and PS4 varieties were identified for the trials. All these plots were 100% rainfed. The farmers only used traditional organic methods for fertigation of their lands.

Organica Biotech used two of its products, namely Magic Gro Dripsol and Magic Gro Super, for the trials. A tailor-made application schedule was designed and applied to these plots.

Madhya Pradesh faced a severe drought in 2017 that affected Basmati yields between 25% – and 40%. To add to that, Basmati yields were susceptible to Rice blast which further impacted the crop.

In the face of such adversity, plots treated with Magic Gro products showed extremely promising results.

Magic Gro Application Schedule

We worked with 20 farmers growing PB1 and PS4 basmati varieties. All these plots were 100% rainfed. The farmers only used traditional organic methods for the fertigation of their lands.

A tailor-made application schedule was designed and applied to these plots.

The Magic Gro Application schedule for Paddy was as follows:

Timeline	Application	Dosage
Day 0	Sowing	–
Day 12-15 post sowing	Transplantation from nursery to field
Day 17-20 post sowing	1st application of Magic Gro Dripsol (Drenching)	250 gms/acre
Day 65-70	2nd application of Magic Gro Super(Foliar)	250 gms/acre
Day 90-95 post sowing	3rd application of Magic Gro Super(Foliar)	250 gms/acre
Day 135-140	Harvest	–

Challenged by Extreme Weather conditions

During the vegetative stage of growth, our farmers witnessed one of the worst droughts to hit the region in over a decade. This, coupled with severe heat, spelled disaster in terms of yields for the farmers.

Such severe abiotic stress also causes increased susceptibility to pests and diseases.

In this case, it was a rice blast. Despite such extreme weather conditions, plots treated with our product schedule showed dramatic alleviation of drought stress and significant yields as compared to the untreated plots sown with the same varieties.

Results:

• Effect of Magic Gro on Tiller Formation:

Across all 2 varieties, the increase in number of tillers was found to be between 25-40%. This was a positive indication in terms of increasing productivity, as an increase in the number of tillers directly reflects an increase in the number of grain-bearing panicles

Varieties	Number of Tillers in Treated Plant	Number of Tillers in Untreated Plant	Percentage increase in Tiller formation
PB1	14	10	38.00%
PS4	14	11	25.00%

• Increase in total filled grain weight per panicle 

In the parameters studied, the total filled grains per panicle were studied in both the treated plants and non-treated plants. The total number of grains per panicle also increases by up to 16 %

Varieties	Number of Filled grains per panicle in treated plant	Number of Filled grains per panicle in untreated plant	% increase in filled grains per panicle
PB 1	145	129	12.40%
PS 4	136	117	16.20%

• Harvest Collected Per Acre

The weight of grains harvested per acre was 72% and 50% more in the treated plots of PB1 and PS4 varieties, respectively, in comparison with untreated plots.

Varieties	Weight of grains harvested per acre in treated plot (quintals)	Weight of grains harvested per acre untreated plot (quintals)	Percentage increase in weight of grains harvested per acre
PB1	13.79	8	72.00%
PS4	15.53	10	50.00%

• Economic Benefit achieved:

Varieties	Economic benefit per acre in treated plot (Gross income in rupees)	Economic benefit per acre in untreated plot (Gross income in Rupees)	Percentage increase in Economic benefit per acre (%)
PB1	26214	15221	72.00%
PS4	34180	22074	54.00%

 

Varieties	Published Average productivity (Quintals/ acre)	Productivity of Treated Plot (Quintals/ acre)	Productivity of control plot (quintals/ acre)	% increase in income
PB1	14	13.79	8	117.00%
PS4	14	15.53	10	68%

The yield from the treated plots was in line with the published yield without any additional inputs. On the other hand, the yields from the untreated plots dropped between 30-50% when compared to the published yield.

Alleviation Of Fungal Disease ‘Rice Blast’:

Rice blasts are by far the most important disease among the many diseases that attack rice.  It is found wherever rice is grown; it is always important and a threat.

The challenge for research continues to be to produce high-quality food in ever-increasing amounts at a lower cost, all while in the presence of an unforgiving and unrelenting pathogen.

All of the plant disease management strategies and techniques that have been generated through research have been brought to bear against rice blast, but often with limited success.

During this trial, nearly all the farmers who owned the untreated plots reported severe destruction of crops due to the Rice Blast.

However, the treated plots, which were all neighboring plots, reported no damage by the disease due to improved plant vigor.

RICE QUALITY: 

• The rice harvested was sent to the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Thanjavur, for assessment of the quality parameters.
• 41% decrease in the broken rice kernel
• 100% increase in head rice yield
• 5% increase in cooked rice volume
• Improvement in texture post-cooking
• LB ratio, amylose content, aroma, and colour were all maintained as per standard
• 40% increase in tiller formation

Overall, the addition of the usage of Magic Gro Drip SOL and Magic Gro Super as part of the agronomic practices was a success. During transplantation, farmers observed that the survival rate post-transplantation was increased in the treated plot.

Although both the districts faced a drought period of nearly 20-25 days, an average of 50%- 70% increase in productivity was observed in treated plots.

We have partnered with thousands of farmers across India and the world. Join hands with us to make a lasting impact on your rice-growing journey today.

Also Read:

• Boosting Rice Production in Bangladesh
  
• Rice Production in Malaysia & How Microbiome Technology can help in Boosting Output
  
• The Role of Soil Conditioning for Farming and Gardening Health in Myanmar