Glossary

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Below are explanations of some of the terms and concepts used in biotechnology, microbial cleaning, and on our website.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Biotechnology involves using microorganisms to produce substances we need (such as medicines and environmentally friendly alternatives to chemicals) and to break down substances we want to remove—everything from fat and dirt to oil spills, wastewater, and toxic compounds in soil and water.

BIOTECHNOLOGICAL CLEANING

The biological cleaning method differs radically from chemical cleaning. Chemical cleaning agents can eliminate all life forms—both beneficial and harmful. This creates a temporary biological void, where bacteria quickly reestablish themselves. Cleaning with bacteria, which is Pure Effect’s method, means that a selected and beneficial bacterial flora replaces the one that has developed randomly. Pure Effect’s bacteria then effectively outcompete the unwanted ones, extending the effect of biological cleaning.

ENZYMES

Enzymes are highly specialized substances produced by all living organisms. They are essential for specific biochemical reactions to occur at low temperatures without the addition of energy, such as inside the human body. In laundry and cleaning products, enzymes are used to break down fat, protein, carbohydrates, and other organic waste.

MICROORGANISMS (MICROBES)

Microorganisms are tiny, single-celled life forms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. “Microorganisms” or “microbes” is a collective term for bacteria, yeast, microalgae, plankton, and mold. These invisible life forms exist in all environments on Earth and play a crucial role in all ecosystems. They are the original force driving nature’s cycles, and many species (mainly bacteria) are essential for our own bodies.

FERMENTATION EXTRACT

A fermentation extract contains enzymes and serves as the base of our cleaning products. The fermentation extract consists of fermenting bacteria and the enzymes they produce. The enzymes are specifically selected for our different products and their intended applications.

ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS

Enzymatic hydrolysis is a process where specialized enzymes break down larger molecules into their components using water molecules. Our bacteria break down fat molecules (triglycerides) into glycerol and free fatty acids, making them more soluble and easier for our beneficial bacteria to degrade and consume.

PROBIOTIC

Probiotic bacteria are live bacteria with beneficial effects—especially in the human body. Their activity helps inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria.

MICROBIOME

The term “microbiome” is used to define and describe a specific microbial ecosystem—that is, an ecosystem composed of microorganisms. These miniature ecosystems follow the same rules as all other ecosystems on Earth. Organisms compete for resources, collaborate in networks, or fight against each other. The most successful at adapting to the surrounding environment will survive, reproduce, and dominate.

BACTERIA

Bacteria are microorganisms, meaning single-celled life forms. Our relationship with them is complex, as we know that some bacteria cause diseases. However, we also know that bacteria are essential for both nature and the human body. For humans, they can be both friends and foes. Our “friendly” bacteria can be harnessed to perform a variety of useful tasks—this is what we call biotechnology.

At Pure Effect, we utilize beneficial bacteria’s ability to break down dirt and eliminate odors, as well as their capacity to outcompete or combat unwanted bacteria.

All life on Earth can be categorized into three broad domains based on genetic data: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota. Bacteria, as a domain, represent a vast and diverse kingdom. However, all bacteria share some common characteristics, including the absence of a cell nucleus. Learn more.

The domain Archaea consists exclusively of single-celled organisms. They lack a cell nucleus, but they are not related to bacteria. Learn more.

The domain Eukaryota is characterized by the presence of a cell nucleus and also includes a large number of microorganisms. However, this domain also contains an exception: multicellular life forms—the visible “Life on Earth,” including ourselves. Learn more.



If you come across any other unfamiliar terms and would like them explained, feel free to get in touch for more information. Under INSPIRATION, you’ll find more listening and reading through podcasts and articles. We continuously update the site with more information and additional links for those wanting to dive deeper. We hope you find what you’re looking for, and feel free to reach out to us if you need further assistance - we’ll do our best to connect you with someone who can answer your questions.