Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue
$75,000.00
Bioremediation of mining-impacted water through combining microbes to enhance metal and nitrogen-based compounds removal
FY 2021-22
Summary
The Centre Technologique des Résidus Industriels (CTRI) affiliated to the College of Abitibi-Temiscamingue collaborates with Probioshpere Inc. to modify and integrate a novel biological approach for ammonia-based compounds (NBCs) treatment in a real gold mine effluent. Preliminary tests at lab-scale using Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) were carried out through NSERC's Engage Grant 544634-19 and promising results as ammonia (NH4+) and COD removal at room temperature using Archaea and nitrifying bacteria were observed with a removal efficiency up to 95% (using Probiosphere's commercialized bacterial consortium). However, the MBR configuration wasn't suitable for a full exploitation of the bacterial potential. In fact, decreasing hydraulic retention time (HRT) less than 24 hours brought up a membrane fowling problem due to high total suspended solids (TSS). Modification of the MBR reactor to be adapted to a real pilot scale conditions (high flow and low HRT) and installing the new configuration in a mine site for a pilot tests will be a great opportunity to evaluate, validate and optimize bacterial efficiency in real conditions and at lower temperatures.This project is critical for validation and subsequent commercialization of Probiosphere Inc. bacterial consortium for treating mine effluents in Quebec and Canada and will, at the same time, offer to CTRI an opportunity to strengthen its expertise in this research field.
Program
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
561057-2020
Name nom
Bouafif, Hassine
Department département
Centre technologique des résidus industriels
Organization id
17386
Institution établissement
Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2021
Competition year année de concours
2020
Award amount
75000
Program id
CARD2
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 2
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Area of application code
902
Area of application group en
Commercial services
Area of application group fr
Services commerciaux
Area of application en
Waste, waste management and recycling
Area of application fr
Déchets, gestion des déchets et recyclage
Research subject code
1500
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Environmental engineering
Research subject fr
Génie de l'environnement
Installment
inst:1
Partie
1
Nb partie
2
Application title
Bioremediation of mining-impacted water through combining microbes to enhance metal and
nitrogen-based compounds removal
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The Centre Technologique des Résidus Industriels (CTRI) affiliated to the College of Abitibi-Temiscamingue collaborates with Probioshpere Inc. to modify and integrate a novel biological approach for ammonia-based compounds (NBCs) treatment in a real gold mine effluent. Preliminary tests at lab-scale using Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) were carried out through NSERC's Engage Grant 544634-19 and promising results as ammonia (NH4+) and COD removal at room temperature using Archaea and nitrifying bacteria were observed with a removal efficiency up to 95% (using Probiosphere's commercialized bacterial consortium). However, the MBR configuration wasn't suitable for a full exploitation of the bacterial potential. In fact, decreasing hydraulic retention time (HRT) less than 24 hours brought up a membrane fowling problem due to high total suspended solids (TSS). Modification of the MBR reactor to be adapted to a real pilot scale conditions (high flow and low HRT) and installing the new configuration in a mine site for a pilot tests will be a great opportunity to evaluate, validate and optimize bacterial efficiency in real conditions and at lower temperatures.This project is critical for validation and subsequent commercialization of Probiosphere Inc. bacterial consortium for treating mine effluents in Quebec and Canada and will, at the same time, offer to CTRI an opportunity to strengthen its expertise in this research field.
