Microbial Warriors - The Challenge of the BioRangers since 1998

Microbial Warriors - The Challenge of the BioRangers since 1998

Biorempirators, Inc. is a company that uses bioremediation technology to clean up soil and water pollution. Founded in March 1998, the company is headed by Masakazu Kono. The core of their technology is a microbial formulation called "Formula," which was introduced in partnership with the U.S. company Openheimer. This formulation is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an oil-degrading formulation, and its safety and effectiveness are internationally recognized.

Bioremediation is a technology that uses the action of microorganisms to break down and detoxify environmental pollutants. It is an economically sustainable option with less environmental impact than conventional chemical treatment, especially for petroleum compounds and chlorinated organic compounds. The company's business consists of two main pillars. The first is soil remediation, in which appropriate microbial agents are injected to decompose petroleum and chlorinated organic compounds after a detailed investigation of the site's geology and groundwater conditions. The company offers both in-situ remediation, in which contaminated land is treated directly, and soil remediation, in which contaminated soil is treated at a separate facility. Another business is water purification, which employs a method of decomposing contaminants by injecting a formulation into the water. Complete water purification usually takes about three months, but this time frame varies depending on e
nvironmental conditions.

BioRangers has been involved in numerous cleanup projects. For example, BioRangers has treated more than 1 million cubic meters of contaminated soil in industrial areas in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, and Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and has rendered benzene and trichloroethylene harmless in the Toyosu area of Tokyo. At a former steel plant site in Muroran, Hokkaido, 2,000 tons of contaminants were decomposed by microorganisms annually, and the cost of cadmium and lead removal was reduced by more than 30% compared to conventional technologies. These results indicate new possibilities in the field of environmental remediation.

However, there are challenges to be overcome with this technology. For example, the time required for treatment varies depending on environmental factors such as the degree of contamination, temperature, and oxygen concentration. In addition, appropriate supply of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and oxygen management are required for the microorganisms to be maximally effective. To overcome these issues, BioRangers is continuing research and development to establish more efficient microbial activation technology.

In anticipation of the growing demand for environmental remediation in Japan and abroad, Bio Rangers is planning to participate in large-scale projects in the future. The company is already working with Hitachi, Ltd. and Toshiba Environmental Solutions to develop new technologies. The company's technology has also been used in the response to an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and has received international acclaim for its 30% faster recovery speed than conventional methods.

BioRangers is at the forefront of environmental cleanup by maximizing the power of nature. The company's technology, which enables efficient cleanup with less environmental impact than conventional chemical and physical treatment methods, will be in demand in many more countries and regions in the future. Their challenge will continue in the future to restore contaminated land and water and protect people's lives.