Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) enables scientists to detect ultra low levels of contaminant species from any desired sample. At Cambrian College, the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer will initially be used for two concurrently running projects. The first project involves measuring the amount of metals removed by hyperaccumulator plant mixtures selected by their ability to remove metals of concern from contaminated soils. The Sudbury area has been affected over the past century by years of mining and smelting and is in various stages of recovery, offering the perfect experimental ground for novel remediation practices. The ICP-MS will be used to test the level of contaminants in the soil at pre-determined levels, as well as determining the capacity that each plant species can remove for specific contaminants. The ICP-MS is also required for our water purification project, which is designed to provide companies with an economical alternative that is more efficient at removing contaminants from their run-off water through a specific filtration process. This process will be designed and optimized, through industrial and collegial collaborations, for industrial and commercial application to remove both metal and radiation contaminants from run-off water prior to its admission to local lakes, rivers, and watersheds. The purity offered with this methodology is measured at parts per billion levels, which is very important for elements that can endanger people even in very low concentration. Cambrian College is committed to be a leader, not only in the restoration process, but also in the prevention of further contamination. Our goal is to improve water quality by the revention of contamination first, then to remediate contaminated bodies in a similar process. These initial projects demonstrate our commitment in supporting the re-establishment of self-sustaining ecosystems in an area significantly affected by various sources of contamination.