Delta Remediation is Awarded combined Federal and Provincial Grants for Bioremediation & Nanotechnology Research with the University of Alberta (via The Serpe Group)
Delta Remediation is proud to announce that it was recently awarded combined federal & provincial grants for R&D initiatives as regards Bioremediation, Nanotechnology and BioLogix technology. NSERC (Federal) and Alberta Innovates (Provincial) are providing research funding for this work with the University.
Objectives of the research include;
- To further optimize BioLogix BioRemediation via studying peak inoculation times for bacterial populations application for the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons & other toxic organics
- To standardize methodologies for completing bench scale studies
- To utilize nanocavity-based sensors developed in the Serpe Group to revolutionize the remediation monitoring process.
- To further cultivate a relationship with the University of Alberta for future collaboration
Prof. Michael Serpe and Dr. Nduka Ikpo from the University of Alberta and James Ehizojie and Robert Lacey from Delta Remediation Inc discuss the experiment to be conducted with BioLogix microbes
Summary of Proposal for Public Release:
Delta Remediation Inc has developed technology (Biologix) for the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil and water, returning it back to its original state. The technology utilizes specifically chosen naturally occurring microbes with known chemistry to remove the contaminants. Specifically, Biologix contains highly purified naturally occurring bacteria from the Pseudomonas genus, which mineralize petroleum hydrocarbons and other toxic organics to benign carbon dioxide and water. Though Delta has internal testing protocols, the project proposed here will allow Delta to develop a more comprehensive and robust suite of analysis protocols that can be used to evaluate their systems. These new characterization tools will be developed as we work with Delta to help them understand how various environmental factors (conditions) e.g., soil moisture, temperature, and oxygen content affect the ability of the bacteria to degrade contaminants. Therefore, the overall objective of this proposal is to verify the efficacy of Delta Remediation’s BioLogix technology through investigation of its activity at varying environmental conditions. We will also assess degradation efficiencies using Serpe’s group nanocavity-based sensors to track organic breakdown over time. Specifically, the Serpe group has developed optical devices composed of responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm)-based nanoparticles (nanogels), which change optical properties in response to (and in the absence of) many different stimuli. Here, the nanogel-based sensing devices will be fabricated and used to assess the concentration of organic species in soil, to follow the completeness of the remediation. This will allow Delta’s clients to determine when a site has completed remediation, thus providing Delta with a competitive advantage. The results from this work will provide Delta Remediation with a greater understanding of the range and applicability of their product and support the expansion of their current customer base. More broadly, the results of this study are anticipated to contribute to the pursuit of economically viable treatment options available to companies and municipalities struggling to meet retirement obligations for an estimated 30,000 brownfield sites, and over 100,000 hydrocarbon contaminated sites Canada-wide.
Team expertise: Prof. Michael Serpe, Dr. Nduka Ikpo, James Ehizojie, Robert Lacey
Prof. Serpe is an Associate Professor of chemistry at the University of Alberta with a research focus on materials chemistry and nano/micro technology to solve problems associated with health and the environment. The Serpe Group is made up of a number of members from various/diverse backgrounds composed of postdoctoral researchers, technicians, and graduate students. James Ehizojie is a member of the Delta Remediation team will be available for consultation throughout the laboratory experiments.
For more info please visit www.deltaremediation.com or call 780 962 7991
