Harnessing Copper from Algal Blooms

With the increasing demand to feed the growing population, agriculture in Southern Ontario remains important, but the reliance on fertilizers has led to many environmental problems in aquatic systems. Annual algae blooms occur every summer in Lake Erie as warm temperatures and a supply of nutrients from agriculture fields wash into these lakes. As algae grow, so does their need for trace metals, like copper. In this project between Brock University and Destiny Copper, we propose collecting algae during blooms and utilizing blooms as a source of copper that can be used for electronic and construction industries. During this time, the intern will assess how much copper can be accumulated in lab-grown algae to serve as a baseline, develop extraction methods that allow us to remove as much copper from within biofilms, and optimize Destiny Copper’s extraction method to further expand potential sources of copper from the environment.

Faculty Supervisor:

Vaughn Mangal

Student:

Partner:

Destiny Copper

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Brock University

Program: