Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Phenol and its derivatives are major organic pollutants that are produced by various industrial activities and are present in landfill leachates. Exposure to most phenolic compounds pose a serious risk to human health and aquatic life, due to their toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Therefore, phenolic compounds need to be eliminated from industrial effluents before being discharged into the environment. As phenols are also not easily biodegradable, treatment methods are limited. *A new and innovative method for potential treatment of phenols is the electro-oxidation process. This process generates hydroxyl radicals which have the potential to degrade recalcitrant organics, conversely they may also reach bicarbonate ions, causing a reduction in the efficiency of the process. As this research has never been conducted the data from this applied research project will shed some much needed light on the treatment of phenols and the impact of the electro-oxidation process.*This applied research project will develop Xogen's advanced electrolysis oxidation technology for removal of phenols from landfill leachates in comparison to contaminant discharge limits. Xogen's technology uses unique electrodes making it unique from other electro-oxidation technologies on the market and increasing its potential to destroy contaminants in wastewater. This project will also determine the most optimal operating conditions in order to maximize the remove rate of toxic phenols from landfill leachates. The optimized technology will allow Xogen to efficiently treat problematic contaminants before being discharged into the environment. Xogen will use the results from this project to further their understanding of their technologies capabilities, identify key markets to enter and provide a much needed solution to a common problem faced by landfills in North America.*