Specifically, the research program will target the harmful Karenia brevis (K. brevis) algae, a significant threat to the Gulf Coast of Florida. The toxins associated with K. brevis algae are the primary cause of Florida’s battle with Red Tide, which in 2018 cost the state US$2.8 billion (~A$4.3 billion AUD) of tourist revenue following a ‘Red Tide event’ which affected Florida and the US gulf coast.
Funding for the program will be allocated in accordance with Florida Statutes which were signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in June 2019. The government initiative is an independent and coordinated effort among public and private research entities to develop prevention, control, and mitigation technologies to address the impacts of red tide on coastal environments and communities in Florida.
In partnership with Mote Marine, Carbonxt aims to build on years of research in the field to pelletize new environmentally friendly algicides combined with activated carbon. In a recently published study in the Florida Water Resources Journal, prior research from the partnership between Carbonxt and Mote Marine found that a combination of activated carbon, flavonoid and luteolin showed effectiveness in treated algal blooms at a laboratory scale. With the approval for this research grant, the two organisations aim to build on their findings from research conducted to-date. In particular, the pelletisation aspect is critical to make the technology deployable across wide beachfront areas. Once developed, the AC pellet has the potential to eliminate algal growth and adsorb relevant toxins.
This announcement has been approved for release to the ASX by the Board of CG1.
Comment
CEO of Carbonxt Inc, Regina Rodriguez PhD, commented: “Along with our commercialisation initiatives, Carbonxt’s industry-leading R&D capabilities and strong commitment to environmental remediation position us to make significant strides in addressing harmful algae blooms that affect US waterways. This project exemplifies our dedication to developing sustainable and effective solutions for water quality challenges and improving the quality of the environment. Carbonxt is pleased to leverage its own in-house expertise in direct collaboration with government policymakers and our research partners in pursuit of environmental outcomes which are in the public interest.”
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