The University of Minnesota announced Thursday it has licensed technology to a start-up that may reduce toxic waste emissions from copper mines.
Center City, Minn.-based United Science said it plans to commercialize an ion selective electrode sensor membrane, that can detect the amount of chemicals used to remove ore from copper mines. The technology, developed by the U's chemistry associate professor Philippe Buhlmann, is able to produce such data by sensing a specific ion used in the chemical processing.
United Science believes the sensor's data will allow companies to adjust the amount of chemicals they are using more efficiently, by not using more chemicals than is necessary and therefore releasing fewer toxins into the environment. The start-up said the sensor has the potential to eliminate at least 24 tons of toxic waste emissions per mine if it is adopted industry-wide.
Jon Thompson is the CEO of United Science. Thompson received a doctorate in chemistry at the University of Minnesota.
