MDG News and Updates

Lagoons and ponds have been used for treating wastewater for over 3,000 years. Today, there are over 8,000 wastewater treatment lagoons operating in the United States. One appeal to using lagoons is that they generally require less energy than other treatment systems and have lower operation and maintenance costs. That being said, proper performance still requires some form of ongoing maintenance and upkeep. At Microbial Discovery Group (MDG), we have explored and documented the process of both treating and maintaining lagoons. With this knowledge, we have designed Biotifx® products and programs to make it easy for our sales reps to educate operators on how to maintain and increase efficiencies long-term. LAGOON BASICS A lagoon is a large, manmade body of water that is designed to receive, hold, and treat wastewater before it’s considered safe and returned to the environment. In a way, lagoons are like holding tanks, where sewage enters at one end and beneficial bacteria and other organisms work to break down various organic components over time. These bodies of water are constructed and lined with materials that prevent leakage into the groundwater, such as clay or an artificial liner. While lagoons can exist alone, they’re also commonly installed […]

If your customers are working in the biological wastewater treatment industry, chances are they’re dealing with the challenges of organic sludge. Sludge, the waste components left over after the wastewater has been treated, is a constant expense for facilities, and many don’t realize it can be reduced. In many cases, we see inefficient sludge handling, leading to high dewatering and disposal costs along with hydrogen sulfide gas production and odors, among other issues. Luckily, at Microbial Discovery Group, we’ve developed a treatment program called Biotifx to help solve these issues. Using biological products enhanced with micronutrients and specific guidelines on usage, we can help you create an effective product that can optimize sludge handling and reduce costs for your customers, leading to their success. Sludge: The Problem Sludge can become a problem for your customers within multiple applications, including sludge tanks and lagoons. Sludge tanks can leave your customers with high disposal costs due to inefficiencies in digestion, decanting, and dewatering, as well as the weight-based pricing of sludge removal. Additionally, sludge tanks face limitations in capacity, restricting the volume they can handle. Lagoons, while requiring less daily upkeep than sludge tanks, encounter similar problems from the slow digestion of […]

Throughout the wastewater treatment process, certain components are left over that get separated from the treated water. This collection of leftovers is called sludge, which is then further treated in tanks. At Microbial Discovery Group (MDG), we have explored the process of treating sludge in sludge tanks and have designed our Biotifx® products and programs to assist with this treatment and ongoing system maintenance. SLUDGE TANK BASICS Sludge is a mixture of liquid and solid materials that have been removed from the treatment system. Essentially, it is the waste of the wastewater treatment process. Sludge is comprised of both organic and inorganic matter. After leaving the clarifier, sludge is transferred to designated tanks, which are accordingly called sludge tanks. These tanks can also be referred to as sludge thickeners, ponds, decanters, or digesters (not to be confused with aerobic digesters). After the sludge finally leaves the tank, it is dewatered through a sludge press and hauled away. Sludge tanks are utilized because they allow water treatment facilities to remove and store larger masses of liquid and solid waste, so they can continue treating wastewater in a more efficient manner. The main objectives of sludge tanks are to: Increase digestion. By […]

Producing high-quality microbial products for industrial, institutional, and consumer applications is essential for our partners. In our upcoming webinar, we will explore the critical aspects of microbial product development and how we ensure quality products for your customers. Jenny Cray, Technical Support Lead at MDG, will share her extensive knowledge and experience in microbiology and offer insights into the processes involved in creating effective, high-quality microbial products. She will discuss tips for ensuring quality throughout the entire lifecycle of microbial product development and will detail why these solutions matter to customers facing challenges in the industrial and institutional cleaning market. Join us on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, at 1:00 PM CST as Jenny presents “Creating Quality Microbial Products”. Register today and take the opportunity to learn from one of the leaders in microbial innovation.

At MDG, we take pride in the Bacillus we manufacture and grow for our customers. We use only pure Bacillus cultures to produce single-strain tanks and can blend and package in-house, creating a seamless process that saves our partners time and money. But what really sets MDG apart is our trusted custom fermentation process. Everyone we work with has different needs, but the steps we go through to create a solution stay the same. Let’s see why MDG’s microbial custom fermentation process stands above the rest. MDG’s Custom Bacillus Fermentation Capabilities Isolation Isolating and testing a strain for purity is important to ensure what the customer sent is what we have in our laboratory before it is added to the optimization workflow. The process involves streaking customer strains to assess their purity, then growing them to confirm with the customer that the strain matches their original submission. This way, we know that the final product is exactly what the customer intended. Optimization Optimization in the fermentation process is crucial for maximizing efficiency, increasing product yield, and ensuring consistent quality. Fine-tuning parameters such as nutrient levels, temperature, and pH enhances the performance of Bacillus strains, leading to more cost-effective production and […]

Since the completion of our Oak Creek facility in the fall of 2022, we have steadily grown our capacities and capabilities as a trusted provider of Bacillus-based solutions. We are excited to announce that our growth has given us the opportunity to expand our footprint once more in the city of Franklin, WI.  “With the rapid evolution of biotech solutions to solve modern day problems, there is a growing need for fermentation and drying capabilities of larger capacities,” says Mike King, Chief Executive Officer of MDG.  Our new 117,000-square-foot facility will provide us with the necessary space to further our fermentation, freeze drying, and spray drying capabilities. This will occur in four phases, and once completed, we will have a total annual fermentation capacity of 22 million liters across multiple facilities. Our new space will allow us to serve customers even more effectively as we work toward our mission to Feed, Clean, Save the World.  “With this expansion, we are continuing to answer the call for sustainable solutions to the world’s largest problems,” says Sona Son, MDG’s Chief Operating Officer. “Adding this new facility’s fermentation and drying capacity will increase our capability to grow and manufacture environmentally-safer microbial products.”   We’re […]

When your wastewater customers are facing challenges, you want a partner with proven success and extensive expertise in wastewater treatment. At Microbial Discovery Group, we can be that partner. MDG stands as a leading expert in bioaugmentation, holding in-field and in-house expertise in tackling the challenges of wastewater systems. With a strong foundation in microbial science and a track record of proven success, our microbiologists, technical support staff, and account managers provide innovative, sustainable solutions and programs that enhance wastewater treatment processes and offer long-term benefits. MDG’s In-Field Bioaugmentation Expertise We understand the issues that wastewater treatment facilities face because our technical support team is constantly in the field, identifying unique solutions for each customer. We take a hands-on approach with our training and educational programs, and we prioritize your ability to work with real people to help you solve problems. This allows us to adapt to changing conditions in the field and set you on the path to success. MDG’s In-House Bioaugmentation Expertise Our in-field success is also driven by extensive research and development taking place at our four in-house labs. At MDG, we are dedicated to delivering effective, innovative, and sustainable microbial solutions to mitigate your wastewater customers’ […]

Spring’s warmer weather and longer days are always welcome after a cold winter, but for septic tank owners and operators, this seasonal transition can bring a significant problem: odors. Now that spring thaw has occurred and the heat of summer is setting in, septic tanks can emit unpleasant odors, and your customers need to find a solution. MDG is here to be your partner in creating that solution, providing you with the education, tools, and hands-on support you need to formulate an effective, microbial-based product that combats septic tank odors due to spring thaw. Odors Created During Spring Thaw After spring thaw, septic tank owners and operators may notice new or more intense odors than normal. This is because: Bacteria resume activity When temperatures get colder in the winter, the bacteria that break down waste in the septic tank may become less active or dormant. When the system starts to warm, these native bacteria become active again and resume the process of breaking down waste, which can produce odors. Compacted snow and ice melt Melting snow and ice can soak into the ground around the septic tank and drain field, which might impede the system’s ability to properly drain and […]

As a Bacillus manufacturer, we work to grow our partners’ pure single-strain Bacillus cultures and scale the process so that they receive exactly what they need. Our success in the commercialization of microbial solutions comes from our trusted process and our commitment to quality and partnership, so that the transition from concept to commercial is not just a possibility, but a proven outcome. The Growth of Bacillus At the heart of our success is a deep understanding of microbials and their potential in multiple applications. The initial step in our process is optimizing the Bacillus culture for maximum growth. We measure a strain’s growth in a variety of media, ultimately landing on the one best suited for highest yield and setting the stage for success throughout the rest of the commercialization process. A Partnership for Progress At MDG, we put our partners first. When we grow your Bacillus culture, we work closely with you to refine and improve processes to ensure you’re receiving the strain and yield you’re aiming for. To make your journey to market successful, an active and involved partnership is key. We’ve seen this collaborative effort lead to efficiency and proven marketplace success for our customers. Custom […]

Every year, we participate in trade shows and exhibitions around the globe, showcasing our innovative microbial solutions in the wastewater industry. This year, we will be attending the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition from August 11–15 in Toronto, Canada. This event offers MDG a platform to present our Bacillus strains, which are on the Canadian Domestic Substance List (DSL), highlighting the compliance and suitability for use in Canadian water management and environmental applications. About the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition The IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition is a premier global event focused on water management and sustainability. The event gathers experts, decision-makers, and innovators to discuss solutions for water-related challenges. Our Role MDG partners with distributors and manufacturers in the wastewater treatment market to help them increase their sales and take their businesses to new heights with our unique Biotifx® platform. Focusing on bioaugmentation treatment, we offer our partners the education, tools, and hands-on support they need to succeed across applications. Find MDG at Booth #736—if you see us, stop by and say hi! While attending the event, we’re looking to connect with industry leaders, explore new collaborations, and promote our sustainable microbial solutions […]