Integration of biotechnology with nanotechnology to remediate sulfolane contaminated waters

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Sulfolane, also known as 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide or tetramethylenesulfone, is an organicsolvent, primarily used as an extraction solvent in the oil and gas processing industry. Sulfolane minimallyinteracts with soil organics and is quite miscible and therefore highly mobile when released in ground waters.This leads to its significant offsite migration. There have been reports of sulfolane contamination in ground andsurface waters around many gas processing sites.This project builds on our current research on degrading sulfolane using advanced oxidative as well asbiological means. Our findings have indicated that sulfolane in water can be treated by various combinations ofadvanced oxidative processes as well as by aerobic degradation. The proposal furthers the research andproposes to evaluate Delta Remediation Inc.'s Biologix® system to remediate sulfolane contaminated waters. Itwill also investigate the application of nano photocatalysis for the treatment of sulfolane contaminated waters.It is expected that the two (Biologix® and nano photocatalysis) will lead to a cost effective technology to treatsulfolane contaminated waters.