Reference number : GC-2017-Q2-00128, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Tufenkji, Nathalie (McGill University)|Tufenkji, Nathalie (Université McGill), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Quebec|Québec, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for Universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : Wet cooling towers, that use water for cooling, are utilized in many large scale industrial processes and_x000D_
commercial building HVAC systems for rapid and efficient removal of waste heat. A major problem arising_x000D_
from the operation of wet cooling towers is their contamination with microorganisms, including Legionella,_x000D_
which causes Legionnaire's disease in humans via exposure to mist droplets containing the bacteria. Thus, there_x000D_
is an urgent need to develop technologies that can prevent the contamination of industrial processes, and_x000D_
specifically, wet cooling towers, by harmful bacteria. The partner organisation, PCP Aluminium, based in_x000D_
Saguenay, Québec, has developed a proprietary technology to form antimicrobial anodized aluminum surfaces_x000D_
(A3S). Their process involves the formation of a porous aluminum oxide layer that can be loaded with safe_x000D_
antimicrobial agents; namely, quaternary ammonium and silver salts. PCP Aluminium has demonstrated the_x000D_
antimicrobial activity of their A3S material in dry conditions against a series of bacteria. However, their_x000D_
company-specific challenge is to show whether the A3S material exhibits antimicrobial and antibiofouling_x000D_
activity under wet operating conditions. Professor Nathalie Tufenkji's team at McGill University has expertise_x000D_
in the study of biofilms, antimicrobial materials and material characterization. She will work with PCP_x000D_
Aluminium to demonstrate the anti-bacterial and anti-biofouling activities of the A3S material under wet_x000D_
conditions relevant to cooling water towers. She will also work with them to characterize the physical and_x000D_
chemical properties of the material after exposure to bacteria using state-of-the-art techniques. This study will_x000D_
provide critical proof-of-concept data for the potential implementation of the A3S technology in a safer and_x000D_
more efficient cooling water tower design. If successful, this research project will thus create significant market_x000D_
opportunities for this novel technology by enabling PCP Aluminium to develop safer cooling tower_x000D_
technologies. This will increase profitability for the Canadian company, while contributing to protecting the_x000D_
health of people in Canada and abroad., program purpose french : Wet cooling towers, that use water for cooling, are utilized in many large scale industrial processes and_x000D_
commercial building HVAC systems for rapid and efficient removal of waste heat. A major problem arising_x000D_
from the operation of wet cooling towers is their contamination with microorganisms, including Legionella,_x000D_
which causes Legionnaire's disease in humans via exposure to mist droplets containing the bacteria. Thus, there_x000D_
is an urgent need to develop technologies that can prevent the contamination of industrial processes, and_x000D_
specifically, wet cooling towers, by harmful bacteria. The partner organisation, PCP Aluminium, based in_x000D_
Saguenay, Québec, has developed a proprietary technology to form antimicrobial anodized aluminum surfaces_x000D_
(A3S). Their process involves the formation of a porous aluminum oxide layer that can be loaded with safe_x000D_
antimicrobial agents; namely, quaternary ammonium and silver salts. PCP Aluminium has demonstrated the_x000D_
antimicrobial activity of their A3S material in dry conditions against a series of bacteria. However, their_x000D_
company-specific challenge is to show whether the A3S material exhibits antimicrobial and antibiofouling_x000D_
activity under wet operating conditions. Professor Nathalie Tufenkji's team at McGill University has expertise_x000D_
in the study of biofilms, antimicrobial materials and material characterization. She will work with PCP_x000D_
Aluminium to demonstrate the anti-bacterial and anti-biofouling activities of the A3S material under wet_x000D_
conditions relevant to cooling water towers. She will also work with them to characterize the physical and_x000D_
chemical properties of the material after exposure to bacteria using state-of-the-art techniques. This study will_x000D_
provide critical proof-of-concept data for the potential implementation of the A3S technology in a safer and_x000D_
more efficient cooling water tower design. If successful, this research project will thus create significant market_x000D_
opportunities for this novel technology by enabling PCP Aluminium to develop safer cooling tower_x000D_
technologies. This will increase profitability for the Canadian company, while contributing to protecting the_x000D_
health of people in Canada and abroad., agreement title english : Antimicrobial anodized aluminum surfaces for safer cooling water towers, agreement title french : Antimicrobial anodized aluminum surfaces for safer cooling water towers, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2017-07-12, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada