BAE Systems trials toxin-eating process for waste disposal

Brough, UK - Microbial Solutions Ltd, an Oxfordshire company developing technologies to dispose of toxic metal working fluids used in the engineering industry, has completed a successful trial of a commercial scale bio-reactor with BAE Systems, the global defence and aerospace systems manufacturer.

The company's Microcycl Technology process involves the use of a bio-reactor, a large cylinder containing a plastic matrix into which the metal working fluids are poured. A specifically selected consortium of bacteria is introduced into the bio-reactor. These bacteria affix to the matrix and consume the toxins and chemicals, reducing the pollution load of the fluids by up to 98%.

According to Microbial Solutions, the grey water produced has a pollution load below the currently required standards for sewer disposal, while toxic components are converted to harmless gas and there is no residual oily waste to dispose of. The technology could replace costly and energy intensive disposal processes, such as vacuum evaporation and ultra filtration which also produce toxic oily waste residue that is transported to landfill for disposal, where its anaerobic degradation produces methane, a significant greenhouse gas.

BAE Systems commissioned a trial bio-rector from Microbial Solutions for its facility at Brough in East Yorkshire. This 5-tonne reactor, 3.5m high by 1.5m in diameter, has been in operation since early 2008. The companies are now in talks to extend the plant to a total capacity of 25 tonnes, which will be capable of processing around 0.5 million litres of waste metal working fluid per year, and are exploring options for taking the technology to other BAE Systems sites.

 “We are examining how best to progress and co-operate further with Microbial Solutions. This will involve increasing the number of reactors we have at the Brough site and introducing the technology to other BAE Systems facilities," according to Andy Southwick, BAE Systems Estates team leader at Brough.

“Working with BAE Systems, we’ve shown that it works on an industrial scale. Following on from the successful pilot with BAE Systems we are working towards a commercial launch of Microcycle Technology later in 2009,” added Professor Will Pope, CEO of Microbial Solutions 

Microbial Solutions is a spin-out company from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, a research centre owned by the Natural Environment Research Council. The company is working in partnership with Houghton Europe, a supplier of industrial fluids.