TechStar recently finalised its acquisition of the IPOH Group, including IPOH Pacific, developer of an environmental remediation process based on the absorption properties of the mineral bentonite.

TechStar said IPOH's bentonite-based clay technologies had been developed over five years in collaboration with local and international research associations including the CSIRO.

A CSIRO-IPOH study conducted for the Pacific Magnesium Corporation in April 2004 showed that bentonite clay products were able to absorb all crude oil and a diesel fuel from scientifically conducted spills on water – with the capacity to absorb one gram of oil for every gram of clay.

The study also concluded that mineral oils absorbed in the clay could then be safely microbially degraded in soil.

"Environmental issues and the remediation of toxic sites are emerging considerations of government policy, and we believe that these technologies will play a significant role in the future," said TechStar chairman John Reid.

The acquisition of IPOH will allow TechStar to advance the "world leading clay technology", which has other commercial opportunities in improving crop yields, in air purification and in the cosmetics manufacturing industries, TechStar claimed in an ASX release.

TechStar said several of IPOH's technologies were ready for commercialisation, specifically in the areas of oil spill containment and remediation, and smoke and air purification.

TechStar said the sourcing of raw bentonite had been assured as the company had been granted farm-in rights to develop a high quality bentonite mine in central Queensland, estimated as a 15 million tonne resource.

CSIRO Petroleum is currently investigating the use of locally produced bentonite mud as a drilling fluid that may enhance drilling and well performance.

IPOH principals Peter Ziegler and Chris Dredge have been appointed as directors of the TechStar board following the acquisition.