Optimization of Cleantech Catalyst for Odor Reduction Applications

Air Fixx produces private-label specialty cleaning supplies and uses proprietary made-in-Canada equipment to apply a biobased liquid catalyst for odour control applications. They currently serve over 400 multi residential buildings (MRB) in the GTA, with three-year growth projected to be 20-25% annually. The odour treating catalyst is highly effective, but susceptible to mold. Mold clogs nozzles and tubes, hampering system operation and impacting both effectiveness and efficiency because of the need to reinstall equipment. Through the proposed collaboration, Air Fixx seeks to improve the mold resistance of the catalyst and obtain preliminary production data on manufacturing the yeast-based component of the catalyst in Ontario, thus displacing the current U.S. production. Social benefits include closing the municipal solid waste (MSW) diversion gap for MRB, currently 34 percentage points below single-family homes. As competitive odour control systems have a high infrastructure burden and/or rely on conventional petrochemicals, greater uptake of Air Fixx’s biobased technology could also lead to greenhouse gas savings as well as the direct economic benefit to the company. Other economic benefits to Air Fixx include additional revenue by controlling the manufacturing supply chain as well as data for new biobased destined for Ontario waste-to-energy applications.

Faculty Supervisor:

Robert Nicol

Student:

Partner:

Air Fixx

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology

Program: