Outotec joined the University of Alberta's research program intended to foster sustainable water use in oil sands extraction
OUTOTEC OYJ PRESS RELEASE, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 AT 12.00 AM
Outotec joined the University of Alberta's research program intended to foster sustainable water use in oil sands extraction
Outotec has joined an industrial research program of the University of Alberta intended to foster sustainable water use in Canadian oil sands extraction. Outotec collaborates with companies Kemira and Suncor Energy Services, the Canadian government and the Alberta Water Research Institute to establish a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) industrial research chair titled "Water Quality Management for Oil Sands Extraction" at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. Dr. Subir Bhattacharjee, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta, has been appointed the chairholder.
The five-year long research program focuses on water quality management studies to address water consumption, reuse and recycling by the in situ oil sands extraction industry. It will also make material contributions to the science of water treatment, particularly related to physical and chemical processes for removal of water from oil-water-solid systems. Outotec's expertise in solid liquid separation technologies and Kemira's large selection of water chemicals provide essential contribution to solve the energy sector water quality management problems.
The "Water Quality Management for Oil Sands Extraction" research chair is funded jointly by the industry (CAD 750,000), the Alberta Water Research Institute (CAD 600,000) and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (CAD 750,000) over five years.
"By leading research in water quality management issues we can promote the development and upgrading of Alberta's natural resources in an environmentally sustainable manner. The establishment of this research chair will also help educate a new generation of engineers who integrate knowledge across disciplines, working in teams in partnership with industry," said David Lynch, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta.
"Our goal is to strengthen Outotec's energy and water-related businesses by acquisitions, alliances and research partnerships. The research program of the University of Alberta fits well with our strategy. It aims to solve the very topical environmental challenge of the oil sands industry. We believe that with Outotec's expertise in solid liquid separation technologies, sustainable solutions can be created for water management in oil sands extraction", says Pertti Korhonen, CEO of Outotec.
For further information please contact:
OUTOTEC
Kari Knuutila, Chief Technology Officer
Tel. +358 20 529 2009, +358 40 779 9566
Eila Paatela, Vice President - Corporate Communications
tel. +358 20 529 2004, +358 400 817 198
e-mails firstname.lastname@outotec.com
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