Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Sulvaris is a Canadian company dedicated to the development of fertilizer technologies specially formulated tox000D
supply crops with the nutrients they need, when they need them, while minimizing agricultural waste.x000D
Micronized Sulfur Technology (MSTTM) is one of Sulvaris' most promising technology platforms, wherex000D
micronized elemental sulfur particles slowly oxidize into plant available sulphate in the season of application.x000D
In the Liquid MSTTM product, sulphur particles are suspended in solution and applied using liquid fertilizerx000D
application equipment. The Engage grant awarded to Dr. Bryant and Sulvaris in 2017 aided in addressing onex000D
of the biggest challenges faced with this technology; maintaining a stable suspension during storage. Thex000D
state-of-the-art materials engineering facility run by Dr. Steven Bryant provided high quality personnel and thex000D
newest technologies for understanding the unique interactions between the particles and the viscosity modifiersx000D
enlisted to prevent sedimentation. Microscopy allowed for the effects of different additives on the physicalx000D
characteristics of the particles (size, shape and topography) to be revealed. These characteristics were thenx000D
correlated to the settling times of the particles. In addition, the physical characteristics of the viscosityx000D
modifiers were also correlated to particle settling times. The strong collaboration formed between Sulvaris andx000D
Dr. Bryant provided a fuller understanding of the interactions that take place between the sulfur particles andx000D
different combinations of surfactants, rheology modifiers and salts. With this understanding, new formulationsx000D
are being developed whereby particle stability will expectantly be enhanced such that farmers can readily applyx000D
the product to their crops without having to re-suspend the active ingredient. Through the Engage plus grant,x000D
Sulvaris and Dr. Bryant will be able to further examine these formulations with the end goal of developmentx000D
and commercialization of Liquid MSTTM. This will be an economic benefit to Canada and the agriculturalx000D
industry.