BioLargo - the technology products business that helps solve problems that threaten water, food, agriculture, healthcare and energy - has announced it has achieved an 'important milestone' in the pilot testing currently underway at the University of Alberta's centre of excellence serving the oil and gas industry.
The company's Advanced Oxidation System (AOS) Filter has been proven successful at replicating earlier proof of claim results and confirmed the role of advanced oxidation within the AOS Filter reactor. The pilot work included bench-scale testing of contaminated water taken from actual field operations and it has proven the AOS Filter's effectiveness at dismantling and removing targeted naphthenic acids, which are considered high-value and hard to contain contaminants of keen interest to the oil sands industry for more than 15 years. The Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta has agreed to expand the AOS Filter pilot testing into areas of interest in food processing and agricultural production, including livestock related areas. The initial targets include clean in place (CIP), carcass and food washing and animal drinking water applications. Kenneth R. Code, BioLargo's CSO, said: "The results of the testing validate the AOS Filter's effectiveness in decontaminating oil sands produced water (OSPW) at the Athabasca oil sands tailing ponds, demonstrate its potential in eliminating the future need for tailing ponds, and provide the basis for additional applications in multiple markets. We are pleased with these initial results and are anxious to continue our testing and advance the design phase of our project."
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In addition, BioLargo has appointed Richard Smith, PhD, 59, to serve as president of BioLargo Water, Inc, a Canadian Corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of BioLargo. BioLargo Water, Inc. will manage the activities surrounding the pilot and the company's Canadian operations. The company recently opened a new office and laboratory on the University of Alberta Campus at Discovery Place, located at 6020 118th Street, Edmonton, Alberta to facilitate continued collaboration with the University's research teams on the AOS Filter pilot work. Dr Smith will head the company's newly opened office. Dr Smith received an MSc in Veterinary Microbiology and a PhD in Viral Immunopathology from the University of Saskatchewan and he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta. Dr Smith has over 10 years of experience in the industry working with several Biotech Companies in Alberta, including ChemBioMed and VirRexx. In 2003, Dr Smith joined the University of Alberta as coordinator, research development and industry relations for the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science (AFNS) where he assisted academics with research development and program funding. Dr Smith was actively involved with the many facets of major grants, including NSERC, CRC and CFI applications. Dennis Calvert, BioLargo's president, commented: "Our work with the University of Alberta is progressing successfully, as demonstrated by this recent validation of the effectiveness of our AOS Filter. The addition of Dr Richard Smith is also an important step in our company's march toward commercialization. We are more excited than ever about the potential for this innovation, and we look forward to providing you updates as additional milestones are met."