Biofilm technology for the remediation of oil sands tailing ponds

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The Alberta Oil Sands, Canada's great energy resource, holds great economic benefit for the country. However the production of synthetic crude oil from bitumen requires vast amounts of water even when water is recycled. Recycling reduces the amount of water used but it concentrates the toxins and metals in these "tailings" waters. Therefore extensive remediation of thee tailings water is required in order to safely return the water and solid waste back to the natural environment. It has taken more than 20 years for the first successful reclamation of a tailings pond. Continuing with the current process or even the thickening the tailings water without increasing the rate of remediation will result in ever increasing volumes of toxic waste, which again raises concerns about the risks to the environment.