Promising new technology could see straw and wood products reduce emissions

CALGARY – A simple concept using forestry and agricultural byproducts could help cut greenhouse gas emissions and clean up water produced by the oilsands.

University of Calgary researcher David Layzell says the idea is like using charcoal to help remove impurities from tap water.

He says studies have so far shown that straw and wood can be turned into a biocarbon tailored for absorbing acids in tailings ponds.

Layzell says filtration can remove 75 to 90 per cent of organic compounds from water produced by the oilsands.

He says although the water still isn’t drinkable, the process does remove acids which cause the formation and release of methane greenhouse gas from tailing ponds.

Layzell says the research is still preliminary and the process would have to be made a lot cheaper before it would be commercially viable.