Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Datec, through a newly developed subsidiary, Symbient, is developing a revolutionary water treatment technology for residual-free disinfection. Performic acid (PFA) is an emerging, next-generation disinfectant that is superior to hypochlorite, being more efficacious for the inactivation of viruses and other pathogens and being effective at low temperatures essential for water treatment applications. Datec has background intellectual property with multiple patents filed regarding a novel technology for the highly efficient production of PFA via catalytic distillation (CD) and the enabling catalyst technology. Datec's CD process can be used to produce PFA sustainability and potentially in very high yield for point of use water treatment. It can also be used in adjacent markets, such as the production of PFA as a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of specialty chemicals, food, processing, medical equipment disinfection and industrial effluent treatment. In collaboration, Datec and Lambton College aim to develop a prototype to validate a methodology for collecting isobaric Vapour Liquid Equilibrium (VLE) data for the performic acid/formic acid/hydrogen peroxide and water system. This is needed to create empirical relations to be incorporated into computer simulation models to aid in the process and reactor design of the next-generation catalytic distillation prototype reactor. To do this, the research team will (1) obtain required VLE data for process modeling; (2) design, construct, and commission a protype testing unit; (3) conduct an analytical method validation study to confirm accuracy, precision, repeatability, robustness; and (4) complete experiments to prepare the necessary database. The success of this project will allow Datec and its subsidiary, Symbient, to commercialize the technology within three years, having a potential market penetration of 0.1% and up to $10 million per year in sales. In addition, Datec will gain specific chemical handling, instrumentation and control abilities, and VLE data for performic acid that will set them apart from their competitors. It is anticipated that the project's result will lead to an additional 8 to 10 new or existing full-time positions created over two to three years, and potential sales growth for Canada of $1.7 o $3 million per year.