When Aldrich Ngan began his PhD journey at the University of Toronto, little did he know that a so-called “negative control” experiment would lead to a breakthrough in environmental engineering. Now, as an Environmental Scientist and Engineer-in-Training with Teck Resources Limited, based in Kootenays, British Columbia, he works to address the mining industry’s persistent and emerging challenges—a path shaped by his PhD research.
Ngan earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto in Fall 2024, under the guidance of Professor Frank Gu. His research focused on using light-activated technology to reduce and remove metalloid contaminants like selenium from mining-influenced waters and brines. Beyond his own studies, Ngan mentored 21 graduate and undergraduate students and contributed to securing over $2.5 million in research funding and in-kind contributions.
“We’re part of an amazing community,” Ngan reflects. “Reaching out to others can open doors to solutions and opportunities we might never achieve alone.”
His latest paper, published alongside labmates Yanny Chen, Aaron Bleasdale-Pollowy, and Christopher Chan, demonstrates the potential of TiO2-based buoyant photocatalysts, developed by H2nanO Inc., to tackle selenium oxyanions in mining wastewater. Using sunlight and formic acid, their semi-passive system overcomes traditional challenges in photocatalytic water treatment—an approach Ngan hopes will revolutionize the field.
“Selenium contamination is a critical issue for mining, power generation, and agriculture,” he explains. “Our work gets us closer to an affordable, effective solution, and serves as a call to action for advancing photocatalyst deployment beyond the lab.”
Their groundbreaking methods included using cutting-edge techniques like X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and in-situ spin-trap electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), which helped explain the unexpected discovery that selenium reduction was possible under ambient conditions. What started as an unlikely hypothesis became a pivotal finding with real-world implications.
At Teck Resources Limited, Ngan applies his expertise to develop innovative environmental solutions for the mining industry. While his PhD work has opened new doors, challenges remain. Future research will explore the system’s performance in colder climates, material durability, and environmental impacts of deploying photocatalysts at scale.
“Accidental discoveries don’t just happen in fairy tales,” Ngan notes. “Keeping an open mind and working collaboratively has been key to our success. I’m excited to see how this research evolves to address critical environmental challenges.”
Ngan’s journey from academia to industry exemplifies the transformative power of collaborative research. His work not only advances sustainable practices in the mining sector but also inspires future engineers and scientists to push the boundaries of innovation.
Read the recent publication by Ngan and his team in Water Research (January 2025).