MICROBIAL INSIGHTS BLOGS

Min-Trap-Components

Using the Min-Trap® to Assess PFAS Partitioning

Using the Min-Trap® to Assess PFAS Partitioning It has been demonstrated that a number of processes affect the transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in groundwater.  PFAS can sorb to organic carbon, metal minerals and exhibit high affinity for air-water interfaces. The magnitude of these processes can vary in time and space, particularly at sites…

Rusty pipes rising from the water

Teaming with Technology: Teaming with Energy

Microbial Insights is proud to team with researchers, regulators, and companies serving the mining and oil and gas industries to apply proven microbial solutions to some of the energy sector’s most pressing challenges. The unbiased, actionable data Microbial Insights provides can help to cost-effectively enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and environmental responsibility of industrial operations. Below…

Teaming With Technology, Linking Action to Data Image

Teaming with Technology: Linking Data to Action

In this edition, we spotlight groundbreaking partnerships that harness large, cross-company datasets to deliver insights with far-reaching impact. Traditionally, field sampling results remain siloed by site, but when data from multiple projects is combined, the possibilities for innovation multiply. Discover how two major advancements in environmental remediation and oil field corrosion management are driving progress…

Teaming with Technology Illustration

Teaming With Technology Overview

For more than 30 years, Microbial Insights has been a trusted global biotechnology laboratory, delivering precise, actionable data on microorganisms which drive smarter decisions. Our unwavering commitment to innovation and collaboration keeps us at the forefront of many industries. Privately held by an active, internal owner, we operate independently, without involvement from private equity firms,…

File:Dan River coal ash spill - impoundment and power plant - 2014.jpg. (2024, December 29). Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://w.wiki/Ga$K.

Microbially Mediated Mineral Recovery from Coal Ash

Microbially Mediated Mineral Recovery from Coal Ash In the mining industry, strategies that leverage microbial processes are increasingly attractive as sustainable and cost-effective methods for improving the recovery efficiency of precious metals from low grade ores. A similar approach can be used to recover minerals from waste streams generated by other industries. For example, coal-fired…

A new joint industry project aims to develop methods, tools and workflows to reliably detect the occurrence of MIC in oil field operations.

Produced Water, Critical Minerals, and Microbially Mediated Recovery

Produced Water, Critical Minerals, and Microbially Mediated Recovery Mining companies are exploring microbially mediated processes such as bioleaching for critical mineral recovery. Meanwhile, energy companies are investigating oilfield produced water as a supply stream for critical minerals. At the intersection of these interests, biomining offers a transformative opportunity to extract high value critical minerals directly…

Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Australia's largest open cut gold mine.

Top 4 Biotech Applications for the Mining Industry

Top 4 Biotech Applications for the Mining Industry In recent decades, a greater focus on harnessing microbial processes for industrial applications has led to the development of innovative solutions to some of the mining industry’s most pressing challenges. The unbiased, actionable data Microbial Insights provides can help to cost-effectively enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and environmental…

Warm Weather PSA Graphic 2

Heat PSA: Ensure Safe Delivery

Shipping In The Hot Weather: The More You Know As the warmer months approach, we want to remind you of the importance of maintaining proper sample storage conditions to ensure accurate and reliable results. During this time, temperatures can fluctuate, and it’s critical to ensure your samples remain within the required hold temperature range to…

Revolutionizing Research

Confirming Biodegradation with Stable Isotope Probing

Confirming Biodegradation with Stable Isotope Probing Stable Isotope Probing (SIP) is an innovative method to track the environmental fate of a 13C-labeled contaminant of concern to unambiguously demonstrate biodegradation. The label serves as a tracer which can be detected in the end products of biodegradation: new biomass and carbon dioxide (CO2) or dissolved inorganic carbon…

Fuel and oil tanks, refinery - aerial view

Understanding and Addressing Reservoir Souring: Costs, Challenges, and Solutions

Understanding and Addressing Reservoir Souring: Costs, Challenges, and Solutions Reservoir souring is a common and costly challenge in the oil and gas industry, especially during secondary recovery processes. This phenomenon is primarily caused by the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and sulfate-reducing archaea (SRA), which metabolize sulfate ions in water to produce hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).…

A scientist placing a slide under a microscope

Commercial Versus Research Lab

Commercial Versus Research Lab   Does the lab you are using actually subcontract their molecular work to a local university or is it performed in house?  Read below to understand why using a commercial lab is important to your project:   Why choose a lab like Microbial Insights: Customer service – MI provides hands-on customer…

tractor plows the field in the evening at sunset.

Agriculture: Insights from MI

Agriculture: Insights from MI In the ever-evolving agricultural landscape, there is a big factor most people miss: the little guys. Understanding the microbial world is key to managing the delicate balance between soil, plants, animals, and environmental factors.   Identifying Microbial Threats to Agriculture In agriculture, microbial, fungal, plant, and animal communities interact in complex…

The Groundwater Project logo

Microbial Insights: Proud Sponsor of The Groundwater Project

Microbial Insights: Proud Sponsor of The Groundwater Project At Microbial Insights, we are proud to support initiatives that align with our mission of advancing scientific understanding and addressing global environmental challenges. That’s why we are honored to sponsor The Groundwater Project (GW-Project), a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to making high-quality groundwater education accessible to everyone.…

Australian Press Release

Press Release: Microbial Insights Partners with Site Investigation Supply to Enhance Presence and Customer Service in Australian Market

Press Release Microbial Insights Partners with Site Investigation Supply to Enhance Presence and Customer Service in Australian Market 20 September, 2024 Knoxville, TN – Microbial Insights, a global leader in microbial diagnostic solutions, is excited to announce its collaboration with Site Investigation Supply as its official representative in Australia. This partnership enhances Microbial Insights’ established…

Aerial view of an petrochemical plant in Wilmington, an industrial area of Los Angeles, California at sunset.

Addressing the Challenges of the Midstream Oil and Gas Sector

Addressing the Challenges of the Midstream Oil and Gas Sector The midstream sector is the vital link between the exploration and production of oil and gas and the delivery of refined products to market. It involves the transportation, storage, and distribution of crude oil, natural gas, and their derivatives, connecting upstream extraction with downstream refining.…

ER is Important

Why Are Environmental Remediation Services Important?

Why Are Environmental Remediation Services Important? Environmental remediation services are crucial for revitalizing contaminated land, protecting human health, and enhancing economic and ecological value. In a world filled with finite things let us preserve what we have left. Here are key benefits of environmental remediation: Improves the Environment–Remediation transforms contaminated sites into healthy, usable land.…

African-American men in a laboratory microscope with microscope slide in hand.

Understanding the Units used in CENSUS® and QuantArray® Reports

Understanding the Units used in CENSUS® and QuantArray® Reports CENSUS® qPCR and QuantArray® analyses can be performed on nearly any sample type, including water, solids like soil or corrosion product scrapings, Bio-Trap® samplers , and swabs of biofilms. The units the results are reported in depend on the sample matrix that was submitted for the…

Disease X Cells. 3D Render

Microbes in Action

Microbes in Action Welcome to the captivating world of microbes! If you’re new to the subject or simply curious to learn more, buckle up as we discuss these tiny yet powerful organisms. What Are Microbes? Microbes, also known as microorganisms, are living organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye. They come in…

QuantArray Chlor Social

Generating Environmental Insights with QuantArray®-Chlor

Generating Environmental Insights with QuantArray®-Chlor Environmental remediation continues to evolve, and Microbial Insights Inc. is at the forefront of this transformation with its groundbreaking technology: QuantArray®-Chlor. Let’s dive into the power of this innovative solution that has been revolutionizing the assessment of chlorinated solvent-contaminated sites since 2012. Targeted Analysis, Unparalleled Results QuantArray®-Chlor is designed to…

Do you know what is in your soil

Leveraging MBTs at Remediation Projects: Save Money and Improve Outcomes

Leveraging MBTs at Remediation Projects: Save Money and Improve Outcomes Microbial Insights has extensive expertise and experience helping clients to leverage our highly accurate, cost-effective, and informative molecular biological tools (MBTs) to provide the comprehensive data needed to select and implement effective environmental remediation strategies. Throughout the lifecycle of a remediation project, there are several…