SBIR-STTR Award

The tasks associated with the sound management and disposal of sludges from industrial and municipal wastewater treatment operations are complex and expensive. The recovery of valuable resources from sludges must be an important intent of the sludge management technologies of the future if the costs associated with waste disposal operations are to be contained. The proposed research is aimed at developing a process to produce biopolymers from biological sludges by growing suitable microorganisms. There are several potential applications for this biopolymer. These include the production of plastics and the use of the polymer for encapsulation of controlled-release substances such as fertilizers and pesticides.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: The proposed research has significant bearing on industrial and municipal sludge disposal operations. The development of a process to recover valuable resources from sludges has commercial potential world-wide. The process and the by-product from the process can be marketed commercially.