Posted On: May 11, 2009
Michael Dennis was the president and CEO of Genome Atlantic when he became interested in using microbes to clean up the environment. Microbes are natural cleaning agents because they decompose and digest waste. “I realized the market opportunities in the growing green economy were huge,” he said. Thus, he left his position with Genome Atlantic and founded Blue Bio. “There is an enormous shift in the business world toward revamping processes and materials to prevent pollution. As companies determine how to adopt green business practices, service providers who can get ahead of the wave of that shift will find a ready market. That’s where we plan to play.” Blue Bio looked for systems that already incorporated biotechnology. Late last year he acquired local rights for a system that targets machinery. “All machines need to be degreased and right now the standard is to use chemical solvents, which not only emit greenhouse gasses and other pollutants, but create waste that is considered extremely toxic,” he says. “We have a system that uses water-based cleaners to degrease and then microbes to digest the waste; thus, no emissions, no hazardous waste to dispose.” He and his partner see the market opportunities in the tougher environmental standards that companies will have to meet in the not-too-distant future. The long-term vision is in the area of converting waste to bio-energy.
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