Research Expertise

 
Research areas

Jim Nicell teaches and conducts research in a variety of environmental engineering subjects. He focuses primarily on industrial wastewater treatment and air pollution control. He is especially interested in the development of enzymatic waste treatment systems and the development of methods for assessing the impact of odours on surrounding communities.

 
Previous environmental projects

1. Enzymatic treatment of wastewaters: catalyzed polymerization and precipitation of aromatic compounds.

2. Development of an environmentally friendly affordable home: optimization of the efficiency in water management, waste management and use of recycled and recycling materials.

3. Treatment of contaminated groundwaters contaminated with PCE using a membrane bioreactor and a fluidized bed bioreactor with activated carbon as a solid support.

4. Development of an International Centre for Aviation and the Environment to provide a means of communication between airports and airlines on environmental issues and methods of best practice.

5. Disinfection of wastewaters using ozone or ultraviolet light

6. Assessment of solid waste management in Karachi, Pakistan.

 
Previous collaboration

Degrémont, Transports Canada, Montréal Urban Community, Trojan Technologies, Dillon Consulting, Environmental Science and Technology Alliance of Canada

1. Enzymatic Treatment of Industrial Wastewaters

Person(s) in charge : Nicell, Jim
Description : The project concerns the development of treatment technologies for aqueous phenols and aromatic amines based on the application of enzymes that have been isolated from parent organisms. Enzymes such as peroxidases, laccases, tyrosinase have been used to treat the wastewaters from a variety of industries.
Partners :
Status of research : laboratory
Availability of results : Approximately 25 journal publications from 1992 to present.
Concerned organizations : Petroleum and petrochemical industries, resin producers, enzyme producers, pulp and paper industries, textile manufacturers, foundries

 
2. Assessment of the Impact of Odourous Emissions from Stationary Sources

Person(s) in charge : Nicell, Jim and Henshaw, Paul (University of Windsor)
Description : The project concerns developing a methodology for measuring and predicting the impact of odourous emissions from stationary sources on surrounding communities. The project includes field collection of data from target industries and communities, dispersion modeling and development of quantitative impact parameters. A software package is being developed to make the method accessible to the public.
Partners : Environmental Science and Technology Alliance of Canada
Status of research : laboratory
Availability of results : Several publications since 1988.
Concerned organizations : Agricultural sector, foundries, pulp and paper, pork farms, wastewater treatment plants, etc.

 
3. Toxicity and Mobility of Contaminants arising from the Biodegradation of Materials

Person(s) in charge : Nicell, Jim and Cooper, David (McGill University)
Description : Studies are being conducted to identify the nature and toxicity of species that originate from the gradual biodegradation of materials used in housing such as flooring tiles, carpets, adhesives, waxes, etc.
Partners : EJLB Foundation
Status of research : laboratory
Availability of results :
Concerned organizations : Construction materials industry

Air pollution impact assessment: assess the impact of large scale feed lots for pork and cattle on surrounding regions, development of regulatory standards for odours, software development

Biosurfactants: development of novel reactor technologies for the production of biosurfactants at the industrial scale.