Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
$74,664.00
Bugs and veggies as tailings management tools
FY 2018-19
Summary
Current approaches for tailings treatment, such as evaporation, freeze-thaw, polymer amendment, and*centrifugation are high cost alternatives due to large areas required, time needed for drying and limitations with*deposit depth. This project, led by three applied research centres at the Northern Alberta Institute of*Technology (NAIT) in collaboration with Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) and the Institute*for Oil Sands Innovation (IOSI), aims to demonstrate a novel approach to simultaneously dewater, consolidate*and remediate mature fine tailings (MFT) by (1) growing native boreal plant species that effectively germinate*and/or establish and dewater MFT, and (2) enhancing native plant establishment by augmenting MFT with*known consortia of indigenous bacteria with proven potential to promote plant growth, enhance nutrient*cycling and degrade toxic hydrocarbon compounds. The study aims to overcome current barriers by using*native woody and herbaceous boreal species with high evapotranspiration rates and proven potential to*germinate and establish on MFT. Bacterial cultures capable of degrading specific organic compounds such as*naphtha, and fix nitrogen to ammonium, will be isolated and enriched from MFT sources. The MFT will be*inoculated with the bacterial cultures using biocompatible carriers. The selected boreal species will then be*germinated and/or established on the inoculated MFT bioaugmenting indigenous bacteria, providing high*remediation potential to the rhizosphere, where root exudates will further enhance their activity. The outcome*will be a hospitable environment for plant growth and restoration of nutrient cycling pathways in the tailings.*The project will benefit the oil sands operators with an environmentally and economically viable approach to*simultaneously stabilize and remediate tailings, thereby transforming tailing into a soil system capable of*sustaining reclamation and reforestation efforts, and facilitating mine closure plans.
Program
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
506240-2016
Name nom
Dambrowitz, Christopher
Department département
Office of Research and Innovation
Organization id
25090
Institution établissement
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2018
Competition year année de concours
2016
Award amount
74664
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
301
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Oil, gas and coal
Area of application fr
Pétrole, gaz et charbon
Research subject code
1504
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Solid waste management (including radioactivity)
Research subject fr
Gestion des déchets dangereux (y compris radioactivité)
Partie
2
Nb partie
2
Application title
Bugs and veggies as tailings management tools
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Current approaches for tailings treatment, such as evaporation, freeze-thaw, polymer amendment, and*centrifugation are high cost alternatives due to large areas required, time needed for drying and limitations with*deposit depth. This project, led by three applied research centres at the Northern Alberta Institute of*Technology (NAIT) in collaboration with Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) and the Institute*for Oil Sands Innovation (IOSI), aims to demonstrate a novel approach to simultaneously dewater, consolidate*and remediate mature fine tailings (MFT) by (1) growing native boreal plant species that effectively germinate*and/or establish and dewater MFT, and (2) enhancing native plant establishment by augmenting MFT with*known consortia of indigenous bacteria with proven potential to promote plant growth, enhance nutrient*cycling and degrade toxic hydrocarbon compounds. The study aims to overcome current barriers by using*native woody and herbaceous boreal species with high evapotranspiration rates and proven potential to*germinate and establish on MFT. Bacterial cultures capable of degrading specific organic compounds such as*naphtha, and fix nitrogen to ammonium, will be isolated and enriched from MFT sources. The MFT will be*inoculated with the bacterial cultures using biocompatible carriers. The selected boreal species will then be*germinated and/or established on the inoculated MFT bioaugmenting indigenous bacteria, providing high*remediation potential to the rhizosphere, where root exudates will further enhance their activity. The outcome*will be a hospitable environment for plant growth and restoration of nutrient cycling pathways in the tailings.*The project will benefit the oil sands operators with an environmentally and economically viable approach to*simultaneously stabilize and remediate tailings, thereby transforming tailing into a soil system capable of*sustaining reclamation and reforestation efforts, and facilitating mine closure plans.
