The chemistry, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena of sulfur compounds in upstream petroleum operations is important as it impacts materials used in the production and processing systems, health and safety plans, treatment processes, and transport of petroleum. In offshore operations these impacts are magnified due to the remoteness of the operations and infrastructure limitations on the platform. Sulfur is introduced into offshore reservoirs through the injection of seawater containing sulfate and/or existing organic sulfur compounds in the reservoir.

Research into understanding and controlling microscopic quantum mechanical phenomena has led to revolutionary new quantum devices, including quantum sensors and actuators that have unprecedented levels of sensitivity, efficiency, and functionality for a wide variety of tasks. A particularly compelling example is high quality factor (high-Q) superconducting resonators for magnetic resonance. These new devices will be substantially more sensitive than current devices in widespread use.

The work will develop a simple blood test that will enable the detection of a valuable Natural Health Product, Curcumin, that is commonly found in Tumeric, to be detected in blood samples from only a simple finger prick. It is believed that curcumin has important medicinal effects such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. However, it is known that Curcumin absorption is quite low from simple consumption of turmeric and as a result a simple blood test will enable proper estimation of body absorption amounts for this valuable Natural Health Product.

Numerous industries and government agencies carry out analyses every day using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) instruments that typically waste 95% of the sample and consume large amounts of argon. A greener approach would not generate any sample waste and reduce expensive argon consumption. The first year will be devoted to making a viable commercial product from an infrared-heated sample introduction system for inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). If the prototype can be developed as a financially feasible product, the company would patent it.

Sugarbush Spa is a London-based company that specializes in the removal of unwanted body hair by a method known as sugaring. The method, used for centuries in the Middle East, has several notable advantages over traditional waxing. Commercially available sugaring pastes suffer from inconsistency in production and unsatisfactory performance. At its core, the creation of sugaring paste is a synthetic organic chemical reaction, hydrolyzing the disaccharide sucrose to the two monosaccharides glucose and fructose.

The build-up and transport of contaminants in aquifer systems occurs through a variety of processes. The leaching of contaminants from industrial waste and debris in landfill sites during rainfall events represents a major source of water borne contaminants which threaten ground and surface aquifer systems. This internship research involves the design of nanofiltration media which involve studies of their equilibrium and time dependent uptake properties toward leachate samples obtained from a landfill site in Mexico.

The treatment of Hospital acquired infections from pathogenic bacteria continues to be a serious and significant burden on health care resources both nationally and globally. Currently, about 1 in 10 persons will acquire an HAI as result of a medical procedure which can result in an additional hospital stay, treatment and in some severe cases, death. To counter HAI’s, we propose the use of a new UV-curable antimicrobial coatings which will protect common touch surfaces (hospital beds, plastic items) from pathogenic bacteria.

Initial studies on the Kisameet Bay Clay Deposit by Dr. Ernest Hauser of MIT in the early 1950's showed the unique properties of this clay deposit. To build on this early research and make clear a distinction between Kisolite and other clays on the market, we have chosen to invest in modern research. As such, a research intern from the University of British Columbia will use and evolve modern chemical characterization techniques to isolate and identify the biologically active (i.e. antimicrobial) organic components of Kisolite.

Acne is a common human skin disease which is highly prevalent during adolescence, and often continues into adulthood. Retinoids, such as isotretinoin (Accutane/Roaccutane), have been particularly effective systemically in the treatment of acne. Although, millions of patients have been treated with Accutane/Roaccutane which for many years generated more than $1B U.S. in annual sales, the side effects, such as birth defects and inflammatory bowel disease, can sometime be severe. The market opportunity of an effective treatment with a better safety profile than isotretinoin is significant.

The project is focused on study of commercial microbial cultures for biological remediation of soils and ground waters contaminated by chlorinated organic compounds. The successful elaboration and improvement of the products requires analysis on molecular-genetic level and detailed understating of organization of the microbial communities. The work benefits to industry partner by providing comprehensive information on functional and taxonomic structure, metabolic models of the studied microbial communities and key microorganisms involved in dechlorination of chloroform.