HOW PRP® WORKS

The Petroleum Remediation Product (PRP®) is an all natural hydrocarbon absorbent that also attracts and stimulates the natural microbial population to degrade oil on land or water, manufactured by Universal Remediation Inc., Pittsburgh, PA. Associated products are: BIO-SOK® well-boom, BIO-BOOM® shaker bottles, pads, fuel collars and OIL BUSTER® which use the PRP® product as the active ingredient.

PRP® uses a NASA-developed encapsulation process enabling production of buoyant capsules, which never sink, even when fully saturated with oil. The uniqueness of PRP® and its delivery system is apparent when attempting to treat water borne hydrocarbons spills under different climatic conditions. PRP® serves as the initial catalyst in which the microorganisms flourish and produce increased amounts of hydrocarbon-degrading enzymes.
PRP® is oleophilic (clings to petroleum); yet hydrophobic (repels water). Petroleum components penetrate the PRP® (where they become a source of nutrients for the microorganism) enhancing the overall effect of the bioremediation process. The specific gravity of PRP® is greater than oil but less than water. Consequently, PRP® provides a barrier between spilled oil and the water or land, into which the oil has spilled, thus preventing contact with ecotypes. It is important to understand that PRP® cannot work where surfactants, soaps, dispersants, detergents or chlorine exist.

An obvious problem with other bioremediation technologies is microbial survivability. PRP® overcomes this problem by providing a means to stimulate massive quantities of viable hydrocarbon microorganisms at a contaminated site, thus enabling the indigenous population of microorganisms to not only survive but multiply, thus accomplishing the task of biodegrading in a timely manner. One of the most significant advantages of PRP® is the ability to pre-position the product, which requires no mixing or special handling, at sites which are at greatest risk of damage as a result of accidental oil spills (sea ports, oil storage terminals, pipe lines, collection ponds, railroads, etc.).

Having PRP® in our products is simply another way to use the product when it must be confined to one area of an oil spill. This is very significant when the environmental impact of the spill is on land, in or around desalination plants, around storage tanks, in or on boat and ship bilges, storm drains, collection basins, fish farms, fishing grounds, industrial water intakes, recreational beaches and harbors. PRP® can, as an absorbent, survive extreme temperatures and as a bioremediation agent, the ideal working temperatures are in the 40 to 95 degree F range.