International Microbial Associates (Charles, Ill., USA) and Microbe Detectives LLC (Milwaukee, Wis.), a pioneer in nano-scientific genetic (specifically metagenomic environmental sampling) services, recently announced a multi-year partnership according to a report by Industrial Water World (Tulsa, Okla.) late this past month.

 

Through the partnership, the two companies will collaborate to deliver a superior diagnostic service involving industrial process water and pulp and paper microbiology.

 

"Slime, malodors and mysterious clumping are frequent and costly problems in industrial processes," said Linda Robertson, Founder and President of International Microbial Associates.

 

"As consultants we need to determine if the contamination is of microbial origin. Is the source of the microbes within the mill or in the supply chain? Could it be contaminated water? An additive? Many of the organisms causing problems are difficult to cultivate and identify using conventional techniques. Microbe Detectives’ metagenomics testing provides a critical new tool to quickly help our clients resolve costly problems, thereby minimizing downtime, rejected product, as well as repeat occurrences."

 

Robertson, according to the report, brings over 35 years of practical problem solving experience to clients, resolving microbial slime, spoilage and odor problems in numerous industries, and consults with mills worldwide. She is cited as author of 12 patents and over 50 technical papers related to biocides and control of microbes. She has presented papers, webinars, and microbiology short courses in Asia, the Americas, Africa, Europe and the Pacific. In addition to biocides, she is involved in new product development, deposit control, water system closure, coatings, paints, and malodor control issues in finished products.

 

"Linda is is a world renowned industrial microbiologist," said John Tillotson, CEO of Microbe Detectives. "We are honored to have the opportunity to partner with her to drive progress, and open new windows of insight to the microbial world of industrial water and pulp and paper processes."

The Microbe Detectives group recently presented two technical presentations at a conference in New Orleans, La., in late September. The company was founded in 2013 by Trevor Ghylin during his Ph.D. work in Environmental and Civil Engineering at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Microbe Detectives was launched through the Water Council's BREW Start-up Accelerator, and is a winner of the Wisconsin Innovation Awards and the state's Governor's Business Plan Contest.