Environmental scientists receive federal funds
A research team led by WCVM professor John Giesy is getting a $2 million boost in their quest to make the oilsands greener.
By Lynne Gunville
The joint federal and provincial investment is targeted for a promising new technology being developed at the University of Saskatchewan Toxicology Centre.
Giesy is a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Toxicology at the U of S and a member of the WCVM's Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences. He and his research team have been working with the International Petroleum & Environmental Recovery Company (IPERC) to further develop IPERC's technology, San-Tek 2000.
The technology which separates bitumen from oilsands and minimizes water and energy use in the extraction process promises to reduce both economic and environmental costs of oilsands development.
San-Tek 2000 has already proved effective in a lab setting. The U of S-led team plans to bring the technology up to pilot plant stage to determine if it can be scaled up to serve the needs of full industrial production.
The investment is being made through Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Enterprise Saskatchewan, through the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA), with an in-kind contribution by the U of S. Under the agreement, the federal and provincial governments are each investing $1,017,850. The University of Saskatchewan is contributing $274,000 in-kind. This three-year project will create five jobs.
For more information, read the WD news release or visit the U of S Research Communications web site.
Giesy is a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Toxicology at the U of S and a member of the WCVM's Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences. He and his research team have been working with the International Petroleum & Environmental Recovery Company (IPERC) to further develop IPERC's technology, San-Tek 2000.
The technology which separates bitumen from oilsands and minimizes water and energy use in the extraction process promises to reduce both economic and environmental costs of oilsands development.
San-Tek 2000 has already proved effective in a lab setting. The U of S-led team plans to bring the technology up to pilot plant stage to determine if it can be scaled up to serve the needs of full industrial production.
The investment is being made through Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Enterprise Saskatchewan, through the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA), with an in-kind contribution by the U of S. Under the agreement, the federal and provincial governments are each investing $1,017,850. The University of Saskatchewan is contributing $274,000 in-kind. This three-year project will create five jobs.
For more information, read the WD news release or visit the U of S Research Communications web site.