L2M- Remediwater™ (Sustainable biopolymer nanocomposites for measurement and removal of pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater)

My project involves the development of sustainable and economical nanocomposite 3D material. The project aims to address the issue of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) contamination of wastewater. The presence of pharmaceuticals and PPCPs in aquatic environments has become a pressing global issue, endangering marine life and human health. PPCPs encompass a broad range of contaminants, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, cosmetics, fragrances, and hygiene products. Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not designed to monitor nor remove these contaminants, elevating the risk of their presence in drinking water. Consequently, the effective monitoring and removal of PPCPs from wastewater is paramount, and that is where this project comes in.
The developed nanocomposite beads offer simultaneous removal and sensitive detection of pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater. This solution outperforms other current available technologies and doesn’t require substantial amounts of energy. The major challenges to commercialization of this project, are validating the market demand, developing a business plan for the project, and securing a patent.
The goals are to validate the market demand via conducting 100 interviews with customers, key opinion leaders and stakeholders, and to assess the data from these interviews to determine the appropriate path forward.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mark McDermott

Student:

Partner:

Edmonton Unlimited

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services; Public administration

University:

University of Alberta

Program: