Oleava Oil Filtration
Project Overview
University
Year
About
Oil and gas operations generate large volumes of contaminated water that are often discarded because tiny, stable oil droplets prevent economical treatment and reuse. Oleava uses a porous polyurethane foam that selectively captures dissolved and emulsified oil at low pressure. Modular filter cartridges fit into existing treatment systems, while sensors monitor performance and help optimise operation. By preparing this wastewater for desalination and reuse, the technology could reduce freshwater demand, disposal costs and environmental harm across remote oilfields and centralised water recycling facilities.
Team
Puwaner Guo
Puwaner Guo is the Founder and CEO of Oleava Technologies and a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, specializing in advanced materials for oil–water separation. Her research in oil-spill remediation led to a high-performance filtration technology with broader applications in oilfield water treatment, inspiring the creation of Oleava to bring it to market. As CEO, Puwaner leads the company’s vision, technology validation, and commercialization strategy. With expertise in polymer science and foam engineering, she also oversees filter media R&D, formulation development, and strategic supplier partnerships.
Sameeksha Naik
Sameeksha is a co-founder of Oleava Technologies and leads the development of Oleava's sensing and data monitoring system. She completed her Master's at the University of Toronto in wearable biomedical devices and her undergrad at the University of Waterloo in mechatronics engineering. Having grown up in Waterloo, Sameeksha has long been surrounded by the entrepreneurial spirit of tech innovators and is excited to embark on her own journey in entrepreneurship.