Manvendra Patel

Project Summary: The Canadian energy and mining industries face the challenge of reducing their environmental footprint, which urgently requires innovative remediation technologies for soils and groundwater impacted by mixed organic and inorganic contaminants. My research in collaboration with Imperial Oil is developing innovative hybrid bioremediation and desalination (HBD) processes for the removal of mixed organic (hydrocarbons) and inorganic contaminants (NaCl) from soils and groundwater impacted by subsurface energy and resource extractions in Western Canada. We are leveraging the synergy between natural mineral processes and stress-tolerant microbial degradation to develop non-energy-driven remediation and reclamation approaches. My research team working on this hybrid remediation technology is composed of USask experts in environmental engineering, environmental chemistry, and microbiology with Dr. Wonjae Chang (PI), Dr. Lee Wilson and Darren Korber. This research will foster site remediation technologies for environments impacted by resource extractions in Canada.

Internal Mentor: Dr. Wonjae Chang, Dr. Terry Fonstad, Dr. Lee Wilson, Dr. Herbert Lardner, and Dr. Darren Korber 

External Mentors: Krista Stevenson, Environmental Programs Lead - Applied Process Research, Sarnia Technology Applications & Research, Imperial Oil Limited; Linda Eastcott, Technical Advisor, Environmental & Property Solutions, Imperial Oil Limited; Marianne Possberg, Beef Production Specialist, Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association