romMax^® is a stabilized liquid bromine biocide that contains 23% available Br (10.2% expressed as Cl). BromMax^® is registered with the EPA to control bacteria, fungi, algae and slime in industrial and commercial cooling water systems; air washers and scrubbers; decorative fountains; industrial pasteurizers; heat transfer systems and in pulp and paper mills.




How is BromMax^® different from Nalco's Sta-br-ex and Albemarle's Stabrom 909?

The main difference is in the activity. BromMax^® was developed to contain 68% more active bromine than Sta-br-ex, and 48% more active bromine than Stabrom 909. BromMax^® also has superior storage stability than either product. For a more detailed comparison, visit the Comparison with Competitive Technologies portion of our web site.

How did Enviro Tech manage to develop this product ahead of its far larger competitors?

Enviro Tech has been developing innovative bromine water treatment technologies since the company was founded 14 years ago. Collectively, our technical team has over 35 years of experience in bromine chemistry for water treatment and holds 15 U.S. patents. In 2002, recognizing the deficiencies of Sta-br-ex and Stabrom 909, we deliberately embarked on a campaign to develop a product with a higher level of active ingredient. BromMax^® is the result of this endeavor.

How has Enviro Tech overcome the considerable number of patents surrounding Sta-br-ex and Stabrom 909 technologies?

Enviro Tech's technology infringes none of those patents because of the innovative process used to make it. In fact, it is impossible to make BromMax^® using the processes employed to produce Sta-br-ex or Stabrom 909. Enviro Tech has applied for its own patents worldwide in order to protect its inventions. For a more detailed discussion of intellectual property issues, visit the Patents and Intellectual Property portion of our web site.

But Nalco claims to have patented the exclusive use of ALL stabilized bromine products in a variety of end-use applications, such as cooling water. How am I able to use BromMax^® without infringing on Nalco's patents?

You have been given misleading information. Nalco's patents mostly cover the process for a way to make their stabilized product. Within these patents are claims to the use of solutions in industrial water systems (cooling, gas scrubber, air washer). However, none of these end-use application claims are independent, and stand-alone for all stabilized bromine products. They are all dependent upon earlier claims that ultimately wind up at the "product-by-process" claim. This means that Nalco only covered these end-uses for a product made by their process. Products not made by Nalco's process, as is the case for BromMax^®, are unencumbered by Nalco's end-use application claims.

But I have looked at your label and it is identical to Nalco's Sta-br-ex label except for the dosage information that is adjusted to account for the higher activity of BromMax^®. Surely this means you must be infringing on Nalco's patents?

No, the BromMax^® label was deliberately written to look like the Nalco label to speed the regulatory path forward. According to FIFRA section 3[c](3)(b)(i), the EPA grants an expedited review if a product is similar or identical in composition and labeling to a product that is already registered with the EPA. In an attempt to qualify for such a review, Enviro Tech wrote the BromMax^® label to appear as identical as possible to the Sta-br-ex label. This is known as "substantially similar to" labeling.

So, Enviro Tech pays no royalties or licensing rights to Nalco or Albemarle?

Absolutely none. Enviro Tech is an independent company unencumbered by royalty payments, marketing agreements and manufacturing arrangements.

What are the advantages of BromMax^® over less concentrated rival products?

Reduced shipping costs per pound of active ingredient; fewer containers to store and dispose of; longer time between swapping out the empty containers.

What can I expect upon switching from Sta-br-ex or Stabrom 909 to BromMax^®?

Lower overall costs because of all the advantages outlined above, and none of your dollars are used to pay royalties to your competitor. When dosed to the same bromine residual, the solution chemistry of BromMax^® is identical to the competitive products. Thus, BromMax^® displays the same low reactivity to scale and corrosion inhibitors, low flashoff potential, biofilm removal properties, dosing consistency and microbiological efficacy as other stabilized liquid bromine technologies.

Where is BromMax^® shipped from?

Enviro Tech has manufacturing facilities on the west coast, the east coast and the mid-west.

Why are the storage containers vented?

BromMax^® degrades very slowly to release nitrogen gas. This would build up in the headspace and pressurize the container if it was not safely vented to the atmosphere.

What materials are incompatible and compatible with neat BromMax^®?

Compatible materials include: high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, PVC, CPVC, PTFE (Teflon), Viton, Tygon tubing, chlorobutyl rubber, hypalon, titanium, Hastelloy C-276 and Monel. Incompatible materials include: carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, brass, aluminium, Buna-N-rubber, neoprene, silicone gasketing, polyvinylidene fluoride (Kynar), nylon and Plasite 4300.

What containers should be used to store BromMax^®?

Storage in the original high density polyethylene containers is recommended. When transfers are necessary, the transfer containers should be made of the same material.

What are the storage requirements for BromMax^®?

Store below 30^oC/86^oF in a dry, well-ventilated area. Avoid freezing conditions, extreme heat and direct sunlight. Keep the containers closed during storage and when not in use.

What is the shelf life of BromMax^®?

BromMax^® has a shelf life of at least one year from the date of manufacture when stored in its original container under normal conditions. As with all stabilized bromine products, some degradation will occur with time, but you will find BromMax^® to have far superior stability than competitive stabilized bromine products.

What kind of personal protective equipment do I need to wear when handling BromMax^®?

Wear chemically resistant gloves when handling BromMax^®. The most common accidents are with the eyes, so wear goggles, safety glasses or face shield to protect from accidental splashing.

What kind of food industry approvals has BromMax^® received?

BromMax^® is not approved for direct food contact. However, it may be used in pulp and paper mills where the manufactured paper or paperboard may be used for food contact purposes.

Is BromMax^® registered in California?

Not yet. Approval is expected sometime in 2005 or 2006.




How is BromMax^® fed to the water system?

Any diaphragm pump previously used for sodium hypochlorite bleach or other stabilized bromine products is suitable for use with BromMax^®. Remember to adjust the rate of addition downward to account for the higher activity. Diaphragm pumps with de-gassing heads prevent the pumps from vapor locking and tend to be more reliable. It is recommended that BromMax^® is always pumped from the top of the container using a dip tube or foot valve. If using totes, never draw product from the drain valve, as this could lead to unwanted siphoning or excessive product loss if leakage occurs. BromMax^® can also be conveniently metered using injectors or eductors made of compatible materials of construction such as polypropylene, provided a suitable motive source of water is available. For small water systems, BromMax^® is easy to apply manually using a plastic measuring jug. Remember to rinse the jug of BromMax^® residues after use.

Where should BromMax^® be introduced to the water system?

BromMax^® may be fed to either the system water or the make-up water at an area of good mixing to promote rapid dispersion. It may be introduced continuously or intermittently depending upon the needs of the end user.

How do I measure the amount of BromMax^® in the water?

The active bromine in BromMax^® responds to DPD-colorimetric analysis. The free halogen residual with BromMax^® typically runs at about one-half the total halogen residual. If using a DPD total chlorine test kit that provides the result in ppm Cl, multiply the number by 2.25 to obtain the active bromine concentration.

Can ORP analyzers be used to monitor and control the BromMax^® dose?

Theoretically, yes. An ORP increase of 30 mV corresponds to a 10-fold increase in the bromine concentration. However, this is rarely the case in practice, and so when using ORP it is recommended that the bromine residual is periodically checked using one of the test kit methods to establish the ORP correlation. In addition, BromMax^®'s stabilization technology acts to diminish its ORP response leading to lower mV readings than those observed for unstabilized oxidizing biocides such as sodium hypochlorite bleach or bleach activated sodium bromide.

How does the compatibility of BromMax^® to cooling water scale and corrosion inhibitors compare with that of bleach and activated sodium bromide programs?

Expect the same reactivity as with Sta-br-ex or Stabrom 909 water treatment programs.

How effective is BromMax^® against bacteria, algae, slime and fungi?

When dosed to the same bromine residual, BromMax^® is just as effective as Sta-br-ex and Stabrom 909 against all microorganisms. For more detailed efficacy studies and comparisons with other halogen technologies, visit the Efficacy Testing Studies portion of our web site.

Can I use an approved non-oxidizing biocide in conjunction with BromMax^®?

Enviro Tech does not advocate this practice, but success has been reported by other water treatment specialists with using competitive stabilized bromine products in conjunction with non-oxidizing biocides. A common practice is to discontinue the stabilized bromine feed each week and apply a label-recommended dose of non-oxidizing biocide. Then, wait until the non-oxidizer has had time to perform and dissipate from the water system before resuming the stabilized bromine feed.