Reference number : GC-2017-Q2-00550, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Birss, Viola (University of Calgary), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Alberta, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for Universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : With a steadily growing global population, it is imperative that all available farmland is intensively utilized and_x000D_
that crop yields are maximized. Carbon Control Technology (CCT) is one of Sulvaris' promising fertilizer_x000D_
technology platforms, employing inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials to generate a_x000D_
controlled-release fertilizer product that will enhance crop yields and minimize waste-products. The challenge_x000D_
facing Sulvaris in the development of CCT into a marketable product is understanding the mechanisms behind_x000D_
the controlled-release phenomenon so that release characteristics can be optimized. In practice, biomass_x000D_
materials are first hydrolyzed to form a porous carbon matrix and the pores are then impregnated with vital_x000D_
plant nutrients, i.e., nitrogen, potassium, phosphate and sulfur. It is hypothesized that the physical and chemical_x000D_
properties of the carbon matrices (e.g., pore sizes, porosity, elemental compositions and wettability) have a_x000D_
significant effect on the rate at which nutrients are released. To test this hypothesis, a complete understanding_x000D_
of the effect of the microstructure of these structures on release rates and the anion and cation exchange_x000D_
capacity is required. A collaboration between the Birss team at U of Calgary and Sulvaris will provide the_x000D_
specific expertise and the state-of-the-art instrumentation required to fully understand the controlled-release_x000D_
phenomenon. The Birss group has world leadership in nanocarbon technologies, having developed a range of_x000D_
carbon powders and membranes that exhibit carefully selected physical and chemical properties. These model_x000D_
structures will be used to aid in understanding the relationship between the carbon nanostructure and the rate of_x000D_
nutrient release, as well as how biomass can be tailored to give similar properties. Samples that demonstrate_x000D_
good preliminary controlled-release properties in the Birss lab will then undergo long-term in situ analysis at_x000D_
Sulvaris. With the knowledge gained from this partnership and the benefits in terms of waste management and_x000D_
value-added processes of relevance to agriculture, it is expected that Sulvaris will be better positioned for the_x000D_
commercialization of CCT, resulting in multiple economic benefits for both Alberta and Canada., program purpose french : With a steadily growing global population, it is imperative that all available farmland is intensively utilized and_x000D_
that crop yields are maximized. Carbon Control Technology (CCT) is one of Sulvaris' promising fertilizer_x000D_
technology platforms, employing inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials to generate a_x000D_
controlled-release fertilizer product that will enhance crop yields and minimize waste-products. The challenge_x000D_
facing Sulvaris in the development of CCT into a marketable product is understanding the mechanisms behind_x000D_
the controlled-release phenomenon so that release characteristics can be optimized. In practice, biomass_x000D_
materials are first hydrolyzed to form a porous carbon matrix and the pores are then impregnated with vital_x000D_
plant nutrients, i.e., nitrogen, potassium, phosphate and sulfur. It is hypothesized that the physical and chemical_x000D_
properties of the carbon matrices (e.g., pore sizes, porosity, elemental compositions and wettability) have a_x000D_
significant effect on the rate at which nutrients are released. To test this hypothesis, a complete understanding_x000D_
of the effect of the microstructure of these structures on release rates and the anion and cation exchange_x000D_
capacity is required. A collaboration between the Birss team at U of Calgary and Sulvaris will provide the_x000D_
specific expertise and the state-of-the-art instrumentation required to fully understand the controlled-release_x000D_
phenomenon. The Birss group has world leadership in nanocarbon technologies, having developed a range of_x000D_
carbon powders and membranes that exhibit carefully selected physical and chemical properties. These model_x000D_
structures will be used to aid in understanding the relationship between the carbon nanostructure and the rate of_x000D_
nutrient release, as well as how biomass can be tailored to give similar properties. Samples that demonstrate_x000D_
good preliminary controlled-release properties in the Birss lab will then undergo long-term in situ analysis at_x000D_
Sulvaris. With the knowledge gained from this partnership and the benefits in terms of waste management and_x000D_
value-added processes of relevance to agriculture, it is expected that Sulvaris will be better positioned for the_x000D_
commercialization of CCT, resulting in multiple economic benefits for both Alberta and Canada., agreement title english : Slow release of fertilizers from carbon nanomaterials, agreement title french : Slow release of fertilizers from carbon nanomaterials, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2017-08-23, 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