Science Capability
Overview: Our bacteriology and virology/cell culture lab specializes in efficacy testing using Standard Methods for the Evaluation of Water and Wastewater and EPA test methods for evaluating ultraviolet (UV) and chemical inactivation of enteric viruses and bacteria in water and wastewater effluents. We use TCID50 (50% tissue culture infective dose) and plaque assay techniques to assess enteric virus inactivation and spread-plate and membrane filtration for fecal coliform/ E.coli efficacy testing. We are also fully equipped to provide characterization of water and wastewater samples.
Centre Capacity: Our facility is a certified Containment Level II Lab. We have low and medium pressure UV light exposure setups, cell culture hood and incubators, qPCR machine, inverted microscope with image capture system, high speed centrifuges, separate decontamination and sterilization autoclaves, electrophoresis cells with gel document system, UV-VIS spectrophotometers, luminometer, particle counter with microflow imaging, zeta potential meter, LC-MS-MS, Level II biosafety hood and other supporting equipment. In addition, we have access to TEM, SEM, EDX, confocal microscope, and ICP-MS.
Personnel:
- Director: Professor Banu Örmeci
- Senior Technician/Microbiologist: Richard Kibbee
- PhD students, Masters students, and Undergraduates
Industrial Application
Focus: Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants, Disinfection Technologies, Clean Technologies, Environmental Monitoring, Chemical Manufacturing, Food/Beverage Manufacturing.
Project Examples: Evaluation of a synergistic treatment setup using UV light and chemical disinfectants for the inactivation of enteric viruses and bacteria in wastewater treatment plant effluent, monitoring removal of enteric viruses and bacteria through drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, quantification of enteric viruses and bacteria in environmental samples and natural systems, determination of viable and VBNC (viable-but-not-culturable) bacteria after disinfection studies.
Engagement types and co-funding
- R&D partnerships
- Contract research and consulting
- Fee-for-service testing
- Industrial-partnered student internships
Point of Contact: Professor Banu Örmeci – Faculty of Engineering and Design
banu.ormeci@carleton.ca; 613-520-2600, ext. 4144
Website: Carleton.ca/frontdoor