June 26, 2002 - EarthFax Awarded Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Grant for Improvements to Fungal Bioremediation

Salt Lake City, Utah - EarthFax Development Corporation (“EarthFax”) was recently awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of producing pelleted inocula for fungal-based bioremediation of contaminated soil.  The purpose of this project, according to Dr. Richard T. Lamar, Director of Research and Applications at EarthFax, is to develop “a less expensive, technically superior inoculum formulation based on a pelleted lignocellulosic substrate that is effective at supporting fungal colonization and pollutant degradation in soil.”  Work conducted under the grant will explore economic methods of sterilizing pelleted substrates, fragmenting fungal biomass for application to pelleted substrates, and packaging the end product so that it will arrive on site in optimal condition.

Fungal-based bioremediation relies on the pollutant degrading ability of white-rot fungi, a group of naturally-occurring organisms that cause the decay of fallen trees.  Research has shown that these fungi can degrade a broad variety of compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, wood preservatives, chlorinated solvents, pesticides, herbicides, explosives, PCBs, cyanide, and dyes.  It is intended that the research to be conducted under this SBIR grant will eventually lead to more economical application of fungal-based bioremediation in the field.

SBIR grants are issued by various federal agencies and departments under a competitive program that encourages small businesses to develop their innovative ideas.  Phase I SBIR grants are awarded for approximately 6 months to explore the technical merit of an idea and make a preliminary determination of its commercialization potential.

EarthFax Development Corporation, located in North Logan, Utah, was formed in 1993 as an affiliate of EarthFax Engineering, Inc. to improve techniques for field application of fungal bioremediation.  The company operates in this capacity under a technology sublicense from Intech One-Eighty Corporation.  EarthFax Engineering, Inc. is a privately-owned environmental and civil engineering consulting firm located in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The company specializes in characterization and remediation of environmental contamination at industrial facilities.  Additional information regarding the EarthFax companies can be found on their web site at www.earthfax.com.