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New Mexico State University

In recent years, WERC has actively pursued research projects that show promise for commercialization. Several of these technologies are being patented and hold promise for future commercialization.

Through the technology deployment program, WERC provides several services to consortium faculty: direct funding, identification of investors, development of business plans, fabrication of prototypes, and surrogate entrepreneurs for faculty who did not wish to participate beyond the technical development phase of the project. Contractual agreements for intellectual property have been negotiated between WERC and the consortium institutions.

In addition to faculty assistance for technology deployment, WERC extended its technology transfer to projects developed outside the academic institutions. By doing this, WERC had a greater number of possible technologies for application. For example, Foremost Solutions, Inc., based in Golden, CO, developed a technology that enhanced natural bioremediation of hydrocarbon spills and provided a system to degrade harmful pollutants such as chlorinated solvents in petroleum-contaminated soil. WERC provided assistance to Foremost Solutions in the form of technical and business consultation, marketing assistance, and design and fabrication of a mobile fracturing unit. As a result of collaboration with Foremost Solutions, WERC received an equity position in the company in 2001.

For more information, contact:
Jim Bickel, Associate Director
(575) 646-3213

WERC-Deployed Technologies

  • Remediation of Plutonium in Soils
    This project resulted in an in-situ colloid remediation for plutonium and other materials. The strategy resulted in immobilization of the radionuclides and waste demonstrated at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The technology was further developed and deployed at DOE’s Yucca Mountain site and in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Development of a Flow-Through Immunosensor
    This project demonstrated the potential for application of potentiometric enzyme electrodes based on mediator-less enzyme electrocatalysis for fast and sensitive assay of various pathogens. The resulting immunoassay system is currently being commercialized by a private firm.
  • Remote Electrochemical Sensor for Trace Metal Contaminants
    A submersible electrochemical sensor was developed for remote monitoring of priority metal contaminants. Field demonstrations included in-situ shipboard seawater analysis and downhole groundwater monitoring. This sensor was commercialized by private industry.
  • Subsurface Characterization of Buried Waste Sites
    A system was developed using different sensor methods to present a sophisticated 3-D computer characterization for mapping of buried waste sites. The project was demonstrated at Sandia National Laboratories and resulted in further collaboration with RTR, Inc., a private remediation business.
  • Underground Leak Detection
    An acoustic-energy signal based instrumentation system was developed to monitor pressurized pipelines for evidence of leaks. This system was deployed at the Lynx Petroleum Company site in Artesia, New Mexico.
  • Treatment of Underground Storage Tank Contamination Using Tailored Zeolites
    This project utilized injection of tailored zeolites to adsorb hazardous waste materials around underground storage tanks and was deployed through the Petroleum Environmental Research Foundation.
  • Slurry Phase Bioremediation of Production Pit Sludges
    A process for remediating oilfield production waste waters through a slurry-phase bioremediation technology was developed. Wastewaters were washed in a compound of micro-organisms that biodegraded the oil. The specific micro-organism was tailored to the contaminant to be removed. This technology was applied in China.
  • Arsenic Speciation Test Kit
    The test kit allows for arsenic species to be separated in the field and sent to a commercial laboratory for analysis. This kit is currently going through the patent process and is being tested by the EPA.
  • Encapsulation of Hazardous Waste in Brick Form
    Waste was encapsulated and chemically bound together by an innovative high pressure process that combined fly ash, water and wastes into brick form. The process was deployed at an Environmental Protection Agency superfund site.
  • Methane Capture from Decomposing Waste in Landfills
    This project developed an anaerobic bioconversion system that utilized recycled water to optimize methane production. This technology is applicable to landfill monitoring, while at the same time producing low-cost fuel. The technology was deployed in Japan.
  • Remediation of Lead and Other Contaminants in Soil by a Heap Leaching Process
    This process demonstrated a solvent extraction remediation technique for heavy metals such as chromium and lead. Ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (ETDA) proved to be an effective chelating agent and removed up to 98 percent of the lead from the soil. It was deployed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
  • Enhanced In-situ Biodenitrification
    Different amendment delivery systems for the in-situ treatment of nitrate contaminated groundwater were developed and evaluated. These studies were carried out at a contaminated site in Albuquerque’s south valley.