Biotechnology

Biotechnology is using nature’s technology to do or make things. The term first appeared about a hundred years ago but its origins are far older. Bread, cheese and wine all rely on biotechnology. All are dependent on bacteria. No bacteria? No beer.

When people talk about genetic engineering as a ‘new’ science it isn’t. Humans have been involved in genetic engineering selectively breeding plants and animals for thousands of years.

At Chemex we need to understand bacteria as well as chemistry as many of our customers rely on us to keep ‘bad’ bacteria – pathogens like MRSA and Salmonella – at bay to keep their operations safe and risk-free.

We use that knowledge to make bacteria work for us – often to do difficult cleaning jobs where traditional chemical means fail. Examples are our systems that ‘eat’ fats oils and greases from drains, grease traps and sewers. Or using ‘friendly’ bacteria to clean floors or carpets. Or eat oil spills that have soaked into block paving or concrete.

And the bacteria we use are 100% natural. As natural as cheese or yoghurt. Or beer.

But there’s more to it than that.

Recent trials with an NHS Trust, conducted with Chemex scientists, proved that our bacteria not only do a better job of cleaning floors and washrooms than traditional chemicals, they chase away the bad bacteria that can cause hospital infections.

You can read more about the unique science of biological cleaning here and you can read about how the bacteria in our products eradicated pathogens in the NHS trials here.