News Archives: GPRC Scientists Publish World-first Research
Thursday, March 24th, 2016
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Breakthrough focused on how to best grow greenhouse gas consuming algae
GRANDE PRAIRIE – GPRC scientists Dr. Weixing Tan’s and Dr. Abigail Adebusuyi’s world-first research into how to best grow greenhouse gas consuming algae has been published in the recent edition of the high-ranking scientific journal Algal Research.
The researchers’ paper “Proton and nutrient balanced medium for scalable, practical pH control in high-density Chlorella vulgaris cultures,” is an original scientific discovery of a new microalgae growth medium called B-8 that is more productive and stable than previously known growth mediums.
The research is part of GPRC’s Pollutants-to-Products Initiative which includes the study of microalgae’s ability to reduce greenhouse gases.
Microalgae can capture and transform carbon dioxide and other pollutants into proteins and carbohydrates 10-100 times faster than traditional crops. The research published by Tan and Adebusuyi proved a new, more cost-effective method to produce the microalgae that is practical and expandable.
Tan is the principal investigator and manager of GPRC’s Pollutants-to-Products Research Initiative and has worked on this research since 2006. Adebusuyi is a Pollutants-to-Products Applied Scientist who has worked on the project since 2013.
“The publication of this paper is a significant milestone for our research and development of microalgae technology as our original nutrition formulation has been validated by our international peers,” says Tan.
Tan and Adebusuyi’s work involves a photo-reactor that optimizes the use of sunlight along with the B-8 growth medium to achieve higher algal productivity.
“The productivity achieved in our system is better than any other reported simply because the efficient use of sunlight and nutrition. These are the two most important factors in controlling algal productivity,” says Dr. Adebusuyi.
“This is one example of the ground-breaking and world-class research work that GPRC is becoming known for and will continue to do to respond to the needs of industry, the community and our students while also keeping GPRC on a strong path of growth,” says GPRC President and CEO Don Gnatiuk.
“This is an incredible achievement for Dr. Tan, Dr. Adebusuyi and GPRC. It is a significant contribution of new knowledge to the international scientific community,” says Gnatiuk.
The Pollutants-to-Products Initiative along with the National Bee Diagnostic Centre and GPRC partnerships with local RCMP and local mental health care providers demonstrate the range of GPRC’s cutting-edge research.
“GPRC is committed to expanding its research work with its investments into research initiatives,” says Dr. Bruce Rutley, Director of GPRC Centre for Research & Innovation. “Pollutants to Products is our lead applied research initiative and is made possible in part through a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) College and Community Initiative Grant. As a college community, we applaud Dr. Tan and Dr. Adebusuyi and the other members of the team for this accomplishment.”
Read the original paper! >
GPRC is a comprehensive community institution, publicly supported to provide opportunities in post-secondary education in northwestern Alberta. Established in 1966 in Grande Prairie, GPRC now includes campuses in Fairview and Grande Prairie, and learning centres in Edson, Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper. GPRC offers a wide variety of career certificates and diplomas, pre-employment and apprenticeship trades, university transfer studies, and several opportunities for on-campus degree completion at baccalaureate and master levels through collaborations with four-year universities.
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For more information, please contact:
Mark Evans
GPRC
Corporate Communications
Phone: 780-539-2951
