ORTHOGANIC - PURE NATURE AGAINST ODORS

What is orthoganic?

Orthoganic is an eco-clean textile finish using the power of nature to reduce odors.

This finish has been formulated with a highly specialized microbial process that works quickly and efficiently to break apart sweat into odorless components.

To test the efficacy and efficiency of our formulation, several lab tests were undertaken that measure the efficacy and efficiency of our formulation on the building blocks of sweat: protein and urea. In addition, the metabolic activity of each of our blends was measured to determine the most active combination of microbes.

  • Specifically developed to deal with sweat
  • Blend of microbial strains are non-genetically modified
  • Does not effect the color of textiles
  • Does not effect the hand
  • Does not cause yellowing
  • Non-toxic

How does orthoganic work?

Orthoganic specially selected microbes lay dormant to the surface of the fabric or integrated into the the thermoplastic compound.
They are very hardy and can handle extreme changes in temperature.

On Contact with organic material, they activate and begin to produce enzymes.
The enzymes break down the organic material. The microbes digest the broken material.
They produce offspring and more enzymes until the organic odor causing material is eliminated.

When the insult is removed:

  • odorless water and CO2 are left behind
  • the enzymes biodegrade and disappear
  • the microbes go dormant
  • parent microbes remain until reactivated with the next organic material

orthoganic - absolutely safe to

people

  • Naturally occurring microbes not genetically modified
  • Meets OEKO-TEX 100 standard
  • Factory application safe for workers

air

  • Emits no volatile organic compounds (VOC's)
  • No perfumes or masking agents

water

  • no disposal issues
  • can be safely released into city systems
  • Formulation contains no heavy metals or pesticides

land

  • Orthoganic microbes support the natural decomposition cycle of a landfill

SAFETY

Orthoganic odor control microbes are non-genetically modified and are all Biological Safety Level 1 (BSL-1) which is the level used for those contained in yoghurt, cheese, wine and bread.

Our orthoganic formula exhibits

NO irritation (eye or skin)
NO toxicity (oral, inhalation, dermal)
NO skin sensitization.

Our orthoganic formula contains

NO Ammonia, Bleach, Chlorine,
Heavy Metals (silver, copper),
Volatile organic chemicals (VOC’s).

UREA DEGREDATION

Urea is a major component of sweat. This test evaluates the ability of the microbes to produce urease, the enzyme that digests urea. The tubes contain urea and a color marker that turns to pink/purple with in the presence of the urease enzyme. The darker the pink the more urease has
been produced and the more efficient the formulation would be at digesting sweat.

Orthoganic contains microbes that are most efficient and turned the darkest purple in the shortest amount of time.

ENZYME PRODUCTION

Proteases have biotechnological characteristics and are important industrial enzymes. They are used, among other things, to catalyze or hydrolize proteins. The more of these enzymes that are present, the more efficient the formulation is at degrading proteins – like sweat.

Microbes were placed in Petri dishes with a protein medium at 37°C for 48 hours. The activity of the enzymes is measured by the size of the proteolytic zone (clearing zone).

1. The Orthoganic microbes produced significantly more protease enzymes as seen by the larger proteolytic zone. A more efficient job in the
same amount of time.

2. Enzymes on these plates assisted in a reaction but only exhibited a limited proteolytic zone.


This shows that not all strains of microbes have the same activity and that it is important to test a large number of strains to select those that have the best activity. Orthoganic’s specially selected microbes create a very high concentration of protease enzymes to assist in the degradation of the proteins in sweat.

METABOLIC ACTIVITY

Orthoganic microbes use oxygen in order to digest organic material. Using a respirometer, the metabolic activity of the microbes can be measured. It measures the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) which is the amount of dissolved oxygen demanded by the microbes to break down organic material. 

The study used a biological growth medium that contained the ingredients of sweat.

After many trials of, the best blend of microbes was selected for the Orthoganic odor control formulation.

  Heavy Metals Technical Metals
Key Ingredients Specially selected microbes.
Naturally occurring.
Non-genetically modified
Silver (silver ions)
Copper
Zinc
Man-made chemicals
Goal To reduce/eliminate the root cause of odor: sweat and other organic materials To hinder the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
Mode of Action Uses microbes that generate enzymes to mitigate odor by converting sweat and other organic materials to odorless CO2 and H2O. Releases positively charged ions which destroy the enzymes necessary for bacterial metabolism and reproduction.
The process is indiscriminate i.e. destroys bacteria that are detrimental to human health and those that are beneficial.
Penetrates the cell wall of the microorganism and disrupts the cell, making the microorganism unable to grow and reproduce.
The process is indiscriminate i.e. destroys bacteria that are detrimental to human health and those that are beneficial.
Application Completed textiles are treated. Can be extruded directly into fibers or completed textiles can be treated Completed textiles are treated.
Registrations / Regulations Not a pesticide and does not require any registrations world-wide. Antimicrobials are considered pesticides and must be registered with governing bodies such as EPA, REACH, and Health Canada.
Risks Microbes used are non-genetically modified and are naturally occurring in lakes, streams, and dirt.
Microbes are all Biological Safety Level 1 which is the level used for eg. enzymes contained in yogurt.
Non-toxic.
Metals are toxic to humans. Must be used at approved low levels. Chemicals are toxic to humans. Must be used at approved levels.
Biofunction Zero toxic discharge.
No environmental impact.
Toxic to fish and accumulations are occurring in sewage treatment plants. Toxic to fish.