nir-vana innovation network

Introduction

Founded in 1996, the Belgian company is a biotechnology one that develops, manufactures and commercializes biotechnology products for the treatment of organic, domestic and industrial production and pollution. The products developed are based on an exclusive process of microorganisms biofixation on natural mineral supports.

In the frame of a recently selected LIFE project, the company is looking for a partner interested in the future commercialization of the technology developed via (pre-)license or financial agreement.

The technology

The project aims to demonstrate the efficiency of an innovative in situ remediation methodology for contaminated coastal sediments. The methodology will apply, for the first time, the combination of two existing technologies (bioremediation and electro-kinetic systems) to reduce by 80% the concentration of organic contaminants and immobilize metals. The project will be applied in the real marine environment in Bagnoli following these steps:
- a customized Electrokinetic field will be created using a series of steel electrodes installed in the area to be treated
- a media containing zeolites and microorganisms fixed on porous support will be used for the degradation of organic contaminants, adsorption and immobilization of heavy metals
- Electro-kinetics via an effective electrochemical method to alter and control physicochemical conditions of soil matrix and represents a beneficial and sustainable way to remediate polluted soil, groundwater and sediments
- Eco-barrier bio-buffer
- all by-products linked to degradation processes in place will be quantified applying an innovative and integrated monitoring methodology

The types of partnership

The company would consider both financial and (pre-)license agreements. The wish is to find a partner interested in becoming the commercial partner and exclusive distributor/user of the technology. The commercial partner would be dredging or environmental remediation company.

More about the company

Today, the range is composed by three products, aiming to solve a large number of issues.

1) The product for treatment of sewer networks tackles the following issues:
- the significant and stagnant presence of sludge and grease in the sewer system;
- odour nuisances in and around the sewer system;
- excessive production of H2S in the sewer system;
- pollution of downstream rivers or streams;
- downstream of WWTP treatment plant.

2) The product for surface water treatment eliminates:
- An important presence of organic sludge in surface water;
- Nauseous odors in and around the surface water;
- Mediocre visual aspect of the surface water due to a lack of water clarity;

3) The product for waste-water treatment plants (WWTP) tackles:
- relatively low treatment yields;
- odour nuisances at and around the plant;
- excessive sludge production in the secondary settling tanks of the plants+;
- high operating costs.

Advantages & innovations

The innovations is that: - The technology combines two existing proven technologies, reducing by 80% the concentration of organic contaminants and immobilize metals - The remediation is in-situ - The project is developed in real marine environment, reinforcing the validity Scalable: It can be scalable and replicable in other geographic areas, due to the standardization of its technological components Flexible: the customized Electrokinetic field allows to inject the biomaterial at different depths within the sediments, thus allowing also the remediation of contaminated sub-surface sediment layers. Biofixed microorganisms work for a long time without any supply or energy taking advantage of the free oxygen generated by the system Ecofriendly: Biological degradation is the cleanest way to remove pollutants which avoid the use of chemicals, reducing or avoiding the risk of non-controlled reaction. Also, the project will minimize impacts related to mechanical (dredging) damage of benthic assemblages and/or spreading of contaminants due to sediment resuspension A monitoring activity: for the above reasons, the project will be the first bioremediation system in Europe able to effectively realize pollutants degradation in a coastal marine environment, and in combination to this a well-planned monitoring plan will be implemented, allowing the control of toxic by-product generation, effect on local biodiversity, efficacy of degradation approach A sustainable solution for reducing environmental risks and costs linked to dredging activities of contaminated sediments: By reducing, or eliminating, the contamination in sediments the technology will provide a excellent solution for dredging or environmental remediation companies to lower risks linked to resuspension of contaminants during dredging activities. Additionally, costs of post-treatment and disposal will be greatly reduced thanks to the reduction or elimination of contaminants in the dredged sediments

Stage of development

Project in negotiations - urgent

Partner sought

Type of partner: - Dredging companies mainly or environmental remediation ones, interested in benefit from a new developed in-situ bioremediation solution - Dredging companies mainly or environmental remediation ones, interested in outsourcing and financing the R&D Role of partner: Once the technology developed and validated by the partner, the partner would be in charge of the commercial development Specifications: - The company considers to apply for a patent - The company considers a limited (geographically and temporally) exclusivity for the distribution/use - The partner should be a European company. As the project will be applied in Bagnoli (Naples, IT), Italian companies could be interested in, as well as companies from coastal areas (Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, etc.).