Floating photocatalyst for wastewater treatment
High Efficiency: Lab testing showed up to 91% degradation of organic pollutants of industry concern such as naphthenic acids after 6 hours of sunlight and no mixing. Floatable, Reusable and Reliable: Floatable and designed for durability and ease of recovery. Strong catalyst-pumice bonds maintain performance over multiple cycles Scalable Process: Easily produced in large quantities for industrial use, offering a sustainable way to treat wastewater at scale.
Highlights
- High Efficiency: Lab testing showed up to 91% degradation of organic pollutants of industry concern such as naphthenic acids after 6 hours of sunlight and no mixing.
- Floatable, Reusable and Reliable: Floatable and designed for durability and ease of recovery. Strong catalyst-pumice bonds maintain performance over multiple cycles
- Scalable Process: Easily produced in large quantities for industrial use, offering a sustainable way to treat wastewater at scale.
Opportunity
This innovative technology combines the proven photocatalytic power of zinc oxide with natural pumice, creating a simple additive for passive or active water treatment processes. Naturally buoyant, they use sunlight to break down molecules that would otherwise resist UV or visible light treatment. Their crush-free production process scalability for the manufacturer and easy recovery and reuse for the client. Strong catalyst-pumice bonds maintain performance across multiple cycles. Lab tests under simulated sunlight showed up to a 90% reduction in naphthenic acids and aromatics. Microtox® bioassay tests against untreated water showed a 50% reduction in acute toxicity. As industries strive to balance operational costs with environmental stewardship and sustainability, this invention offers strong market and commercial potential.
Competitive advantage
- Ready for Scale: The fabrication process is simple and scalable, making it a practical solution for large-scale industrial wastewater treatment. Avoids crushing unit operations.
- Effective: Laboratory testing showed up to 91.5% reduction in harmful organics. Preliminary outdoor tests showed over 70% reduction.
- Recoverable & Reliable: Larger size and buoyancy facilitate recovery. The strong bond between zinc oxide and pumice ensures the material lasts through multiple cycles. Reducing operating costs
Status
- Provisional US patent application filed
About University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a large, comprehensive public research university in Edmonton with multiple campuses and a strong applied research culture. Industry engages through co-located labs and pilot-scale facilities, as well as established co-op and internship programs that place talent with partners year-round. Integration with Alberta’s province-wide hospital system supports clinical research and accelerates translation. Companies also benefit from proximity to regional industry clusters and collaboration hubs on and near campus for joint R&D and prototyping. Supported by NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, and Canada Foundation for Innovation funding—plus provincial and industry support—the tech transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup formation with streamlined sponsored-research agreements.
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