Technology
Biocatalysis meets renewable materials
Three technology pillars combine into a modular treatment train for selected aqueous laboratory waste streams: renewable hemp-derived media, selective enzymes, and contained microbial treatment.
Pillar 01
Hemp-derived treatment media
Industrial hemp stalks and hurd can be processed into a family of treatment materials, from fibrous supports to carbonized sorbents.
Cellulose fibre
Structural support and functionalizable surface chemistry.
Porous adsorbent
Bulk capture of hydrophobic contaminants.
Activated carbon
High surface area for polishing duty.
Biochar
Carbonized hurd for pre-filtration and biosorption.
Functionalized media
Surface groups tuned for metal binding or enzyme anchoring.
Renewable feedstock
High surface-area materials
Circular material potential
Potential support matrix for enzyme immobilization
Pillar 02
Engineered enzymes
Enzymes can selectively break specific chemical bonds. That selectivity is the point: enzymes are selected for specific chemical targets, not for waste in general.
Contaminant approaches
A target molecule enters the reactor channel.
Binds near the active site
Geometry and chemistry determine selectivity.
Chemical bond is transformed
The catalytic step cleaves or oxidizes a bond.
Less harmful / more biodegradable
The product is easier for downstream microbial treatment to handle.
| Enzyme family | Typical chemical target |
|---|---|
| Laccases | Phenolics, dyes |
| Peroxidases | Aromatics, selected pharmaceuticals |
| Esterases | Ester bonds |
| Hydrolases | Hydrolysable substrates |
| Phosphotriesterases | Organophosphates |
| Dehalogenases | Selected halogenated organics |
| Oxygenases | Hydrocarbons, PAHs |
Enzyme performance is compound-specific and research-stage. Under validation — no removal efficiencies are claimed.
Pillar 03
Microbial treatment
Engineered or naturally selected microbial consortia can metabolize suitable contaminants or the intermediates produced by the enzyme stage.
Contained reactor systems
Microbial treatment occurs in contained reactor systems. There is no uncontrolled release of engineered organisms.
Intermediate metabolism
Enzyme products are often more biodegradable than the parent compound, which is what makes the two stages complementary.
Monitored operation
Flow, pH, temperature and sampling ports support the analytical verification required to judge performance.
Compatibility
Contaminant compatibility matrix
Where biology is promising, where it is conditional, and where it is simply the wrong tool.
| Contaminant class | Treatment mechanism | Technology maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phenols / dyes / some pharmaceuticals | Laccases / peroxidases | High potential | Compound-specific validation required |
| Organophosphates | Hydrolases / phosphotriesterases | High potential | Target-specific |
| Hydrocarbons / PAHs | Oxygenases + microbial treatment | Moderate to high potential | Biodegradable fractions only |
| Selected chlorinated organics | Dehalogenases / microbial systems | Moderate potential | Strongly compound-dependent |
| Heavy metals | Hemp biochar / biosorption | Capture only | Metals must be recovered or safely disposed |
| PFAS | Experimental | Low readiness | Not marketed as a commercial PFAS destruction technology |
| Concentrated solvents / strong acids / strong bases | Not suitable for direct biological treatment | Not applicable | Route through established hazardous-waste handling |
Maturity labels describe research-stage capability, not validated commercial performance. No removal percentages are claimed; treatability is established per waste stream through analytical verification.
Technical consultation
Explore whether your chemistry is addressable.
Send us the analytical picture for one stream and our technical team will tell you plainly whether targeted biological pre-treatment is worth testing.