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AN ALTERNATE MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SHELL PADS TO ESTABLISH OYSTER SEED BEDS AND COMMERCIAL REEFS

Award Information
Agency: National Science Foundation
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 5213
Amount: $40,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1987
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
7607 Eastmark Drive Suite 250
College Station, TX 77840
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 () -
Business Contact
 Dr. E. A. Kennedy Jr.
Title: Senior Scientist
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

RESEARCH ON AN ALTERNATE MATERIAL, ANHYDRITE CALCIUM SULFATE, FOR USE AS CULTCH IN CONSTRUCTING SEED BEDS AND ARTIFICIAL OYSTER REEFS IS HEREIN PROPOSED. GIVEN THE FACTS THAT OYSTER PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES HAS DECLINED GREATLY SINCE 1908 AND THAT NATURAL OYSTERSHELL IS SCARCE AND EXPENSIVE, MOTIVATION FOR USE OF THIS ALTERNATE MATERIAL AS CULTCH INCLUDES ITS CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION, LOW COST, AND THE PHYSICAL PROPERTY TO FRACTURE INTO A LENTICULAR SHAPE SIMILAR TO NATURAL OYSTERSHELL. SINCE ANHYDRITE CALCIUM SULFATE, A CO-PRODUCT OF HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, HAS A POTENTIAL TO LEACH SPECIFIC IONS AND POSSIBLE TRACE METALS, IN VITRO ANALYSES WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE THE MATERIAL'S SUITABILITY FOR PLACEMENT IN THE ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENT. THE TEST MATERIAL'S COMPATIBILITY FOR OYSTER SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH WILL BE ASSESSED THROUGH IN SITU RESEARCH IN AN ESTUARY SUPPORTING SIGNIFICANT OYSTER PRODUCTION.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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