Environmental water remediation is currently a $6 billon per year industry with 5,000 to 12,000 newly discovered remediation sites per year. Over the next several decades, private industry and federal, state, and local governments will commit billions of dollars annually to clean up sites contaminated with risky waste products.
Chlorinated solvents are common additives in paint thinners, dry cleaning solutions, degreasers, and were formally associated with gas stations and chemical manufacturers. These pollutants were historically dumped into the groundwater and, despite more recent regulations, are still commonly found pollutants in our groundwater today. Unfortunately, people who are exposed to such compounds can experience a number of serious health effects including organ damage, impaired fetal development, cancer, and death.
NanoFex has developed a novel nanoparticle formulation that can remove harmful chlorinated solvents from our groundwater more efficiently than other groundwater remediation processes currently available. Most importantly, this nanoparticle technology relies on inexpensive, natural components such as sugar. Therefore, NanoFex offers the benefits of safe, efficient, inexpensive groundwater remediation and promises to improve the environment and human health.
NanoFex ignites world class talent with new headquarters in New Orleans Bioinnovation Center
- Feb 15th, 2012-
New Orleans based biotech startup NanoFex, LLC, a privately held biotech company providing technologies that more cost effectively remediate environmental contamination challenges, announced its launch at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center. Tulane’s Executive Director of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Development, John Christie, and NanoFex CEO, David Culpepper, signed an option-to-license agreement that grants NanoFex the exclusive right to produce carbon microspheres that use nano-iron particles for cleaning environmental contamination. Using an environmentally sustainable nanotechnology derived from Louisiana cane sugar, crab and crawfish shells, NanoFex will sequester and break down groundwater contaminants such as chlorinated solvents, arsenic and heavy metals. Find out more here.
NanoFex technology utilizes crawfish shells and sugar cane to clean groundwater
- July 11th, 2012-
Most major construction projects require an environmental assessment. Using Geoprobe machinery, companies like Walker-Hill Environmental drill deep into the earth, pound in a sample tube and pull out layers of soil. Then it’s up to someone like NanoFex’s David Culpepper to analyze it. He’s looking for “changes in soil type and geology, presence of contamination such as gasoline or diesel, hydrocarbons.” Find out more here.
NanoFex: part of louisiana’s diverse tech mecca
- July 11th, 2012-
“New Orleans has a culture for innovation, specifically within education,” said Meghan Mclain, Communications Lead for Dash, on why New Orleans has been a welcoming place for education technology entrepreneurs. “The teachers and schools are quick to adapt to new and innovative ideas. It’s as if the idea of ‘slow to warm up’ doesn’t exist here.” NanoFex is rapidly becoming an integral part of this post-Katrina boom in tech development in the city. Find out more here.
NanoFex CEO David Culpepper awarded Tulane Challenge prize
- July 11th, 2012-
Ventures with strong connections to Tulane University and the A. B. Freeman School of Business were big winners in last week’s 2012 New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, an event highlighting the city’s thriving startup community. Companies founded by Tulane staff, students or alumni won three of the five major contests, each winning a $50,000 cash prize, while many more participated as contestants throughout the week. Find out more here.
