Oil/Water Separation technology

 Frequently asked questions

Q: How does MYCELX work?

A: MYCELX is infused so that it is homogeneously dispersed throughout the base materials. As pollutants come in contact with the MYCELX, they are solubilized into the infused MYCELX coating, making them hydrophobic and thickening them so they will not redisperse into the solution.

Q: What materials can MYCELX remove from solution?

A: MYCELX is capable of removing organic solvents, metals, PCBs, insecticides, surfactants, oil and grease, some alcohols and gycols, chlorinates, MTBE and other C1 through C10+ organics.

Q: How quickly can MYCELX remove contaminants?

A: Typically, MYCELX filters remove the contaminants in a single pass through the filter.

Q: How can I tell when the filter is used up?

A: The filters do not increase head pressure or plug up when they fully saturate. Once they fully saturate, the filter will not be able to remove any further contamination from solution and will simply allow it to bypass the filter. You may choose to install a conductivity meter or Hydrocarbon sensor.

Q: How much water can be treated with a MYCELX filter?

A: MYCELX filters are totally unaffected by the amount of water passing through them. They will only become saturated by pollutants in the water.

Q: Does the MYCELX infusion have a shelf life or will it wear off over time?

A: No. MYCELX is permanently attached to the filter membrane and will not wear off or lose strength.

Q: Is MYCELX toxic?

A: No. It is a nonhazardous / nontoxic material that will not dissolve or migrate in water. It has been declared compliant to section 300.915 of the NCP by the EPA.

Q: How do you dispose of used materials?

A: The used materials must be disposed of according to local, state and federal regulations. The products are excellent for disposal using incineration because of their low water absorption, low ash content (less than .2%), and high BTU value, if oil or flammables are absorbed.

Q: What is the MYCELX compound based upon?

A: MYCELX is our patented compound that is formed as a synthesis product of a natural drying, semi-drying or non-drying oil and a synthetic polymer. The synthesis forms an entirely new molecule that never before existed. The MYCELX was actually issued two new CAS (Chemical Abstract Services) numbers by the American Chemical Society.

Q: How does it work?

A: MYCELX is infused into any number of substrates to bring it in contact with pollutants in water. MYCELX infused materials are able to remove 99+% of pollutants from water in a single pass. Once the pollutants such as Hydrocarbons (oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, sheen), Chlorinated Solvents, & PCBs come in contact with the MYCELX they are instantly bonded to the material and become extremely hydrophobic (repellent to water) and viscoelastic (thickened) so they want to get out of the water stream.

Q: How is the MYCELX "tailored" to applications?

A: Our patent covers hundreds of blends of MYCELX. Our R&D department is able to pick and synthesize formulations that have very specific properties to address specific pollutants or waste stream conditions such as high temperatures or pH levels.

Q: What cost savings are associated with the use of MYCELX?

A: MYCELX infused materials will not absorb water when used to remove oil and other pollutants from the water. Normally, oil sorbents absorb 10 times their weight in water when they are used in an oil spill application. All of that water cost a lot of money to haul off, both in weight and in gallons. MYCELX materials only absorb the pollutants so when they are saturated , only the MYCELX material and the pollutant is left. Also, because of the low water drag out weight MYCELX materials are able to be incinerated and often can be used for power generation because of their high BTU value.

Q: Can MYCELX filters be retrofitted?

A: Yes, absolutely. We manufacture MYCELX filter cartridges in standard 10, 20, and 30 inch lengths which can be used in standard filter housings.

Q: What type of membranes or filter processes are used with MYCELX technology?

A: We are able to infuse any type of membrane with MYCELX but we offer 10, 20 and 30 inch filter cartridges, MYCELX Filter Sand, MYCELX SilaKleen, and Reverse Osmosis Protection Filters as standard items.

Q: Approximately how long would a MYCELX filter last before it needs to be replaced?

A: For example: One MYCELX MX-4 Filter Unit (which contains 4 - 30" MYCELX filter cartridges and flows up to 60 gpm) can treat 38,000 gallons of 10 ppm Benzene tainted water down to zero ppm in a single pass.

Q: How widespread is the use of this technology today?

A: MYCELX is currently used throughout the U.S. and Canada on applications ranging from oil spill remediation and general industrial discharges to environmental groundwater cleanup sites and marine bilge water remediation projects. We have a few international accounts for our products in both the oil spill remediation and filtration areas and plan on expanding that market as we grow.

Q: What future plans does MYCELX Corp. have in marketing and developing this technology?

A: We will continue to expand our existing markets and products and look for niche markets in other industries.
We are currently developing a line of stormwater products to handle water runoff from parking lots and we are looking to license our technology to some of the larger players in that market. R&D is also focusing it's efforts on the problem of removing MTBE from contaminated drinking water sites throughout the U.S. using a variation of the MYCELX technology. Our current technology removes 30 - 35% of MTBE from water in a single pass but we have been able to reach removal efficiencies of 70% in the laboratory utilizing a specially modified MYCELX.

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Sunshine Maritime Ltd   68, Morley Street, London SE1 7QZ

Technical and Sales enquiries

Tel/Fax (44) (0) 870 240 6275

sales@sunshinemaritime.co.uk

  Tel: +44 (0) 870 40 675   Email: sales@sunshinemaritime.co.uk