Environment Sector - Environment Protection Program

BRI's Environment Sector focuses on the development of bioprocesses for the prevention, remediation and monitoring of pollution. The Sector's research teams have unique expertise in the biotreatment of contaminated soils, groundwater, sediments, air, and industrial wastewater. The Sector's multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers works closely with industry on the research and development of innovative environmental technologies.

Molecular geneticists in the Environment Sector have designed DNA microarrays for the identification of 500 water-borne pathogens simultaneously. Other microarrays have been designed in order to distinguish between harmful strains of the pathogen Escherichia coli, and strains that are harmless. The Sector's nanobiotechnology specialists have developed biosensors for the detection of bacterial and viral pathogens in food, water and soils. These technologies have applications for detection of environmental contaminants and the presence of bioweapons. Microbiologists in the Sector have refined and improved methodologies for assessing bacterial communities in waters, soils, sludges and organic residues. The Analytical Chemistry Group has found biodegradation pathways, which are being used to biodegrade explosives from marine sediments, soils and groundwater. The Environmental Bioengineering Group has developed cutting-edge bioprocess systems to remove contaminants from groundwater, waste waters, soils and agricultural and municipal wastes.

Related Information

Institutes:

• NRC Biotechnology Research Institute