Research summary
When oil spills happen, they can spread throughout an ecosystem and have long-ranging impacts, from fouling beaches to harming birds and mammals to causing health effects among humans. As Canada Research Chair in Environmental Engineering, Dr. Baiyu Zhang is developing innovative approaches to address oil pollution and improve spill-response operations.
She and her research team are working on novel technologies and green bio-products for removing oil from water before it can spread into sensitive ecosystems. They are also investigating the impact and mitigation of bio-dispersed oil in marine ecosystems with and without the presence of co-contaminants, such as microplastics. Ultimately, their work will enhance Canada’s competitiveness, contribute to coastal environmental engineering knowledge, and support sustainable development and environmental protection along the Arctic and Northern Atlantic coastlines.