![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081108081444im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Award Winners by Industry Sector
Winners by Year | Winners by Technology | Winners by Industry Sector
Index of Challenge Winners by Industry Sector
DISCLAIMER: The short descriptions provided in this section were derived by EPA from the winning entries received for the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards and other public information. They are not officially endorsed by EPA, nor does EPA endorse any of the products mentioned in them. Claims made in these descriptions have not been verified by EPA. Each description represents only one aspect of the information in an entry and, as such, is intended merely to point users of this Web site to a summary of the winning entry.
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Jeneil Biosurfactant Company | Rhamnolipid biosurfactant: a biobased, biodegradable surfactant to increase penetration and dispersion of agricultural chemicals in soil and foliage; also an active biofungicide (summary) |
| 2001 | Bayer Corporation; Bayer AG (technology acquired by LANXESS) | Baypure™ CX iminodisuccinate: a biodegradable chelating agent that prevents, corrects, and minimizes mineral deficiencies in crops (summary) |
| 2001 | EDEN Bioscience Corporation | Messenger® proteins: nontoxic, naturally occurring harpin proteins produced by fermentation, stimulate plant growth and defenses against disease and pests (summary) |
| 1996 | Donlar Corporation (now NanoChem Solutions, Inc.) | Biodegradable thermal polyaspartic acid (TPA) replaces nonbiodegradable polyacrylates, increasing a plant's ability to take up nutrients and improving crop yields (summary) |
| 1996 | Professor Mark Holtzapple, Texas A&M University | Lime-treated agricultural residues such as straw, stover, and bagasse are useful as feeds for ruminant animals (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Dow AgroSciences LLC | Spinetoram, a new environmentally favorable insecticide, registered by EPA as a reduced-risk pesticide for use on many crops including pome fruit, stone fruit, and tree nuts (summary) |
| 2004 | Jeneil Biosurfactant Company | Rhamnolipid biosurfactant, approved by EPA as a biofungicide in April 2004; made by soil bacteria (summary) |
| 2003 | AgraQuest, Inc. | Serenade®, a EPA-registered biofungicide, made by a naturally occurring bacterium (summary) |
| 2002 | Chemical Specialities, Inc. (now Viance) | ACQ Preserve®, an arsenic- and chromium-free wood preservative, registered by EPA as a pesticide for use in pressure treatment of wood products (summary) |
| 2001 | EDEN Bioscience Corporation | Messenger® proteins, nontoxic, naturally occurring harpin proteins, a U.S EPA-registered biochemical pesticide for disease management and yield enhancement (summary) |
| 2000 | Dow AgroSciences LLC | Sentricon™ termite colony elimination system (active ingredient: hexaflumuron), registered by EPA as a reduced-risk pesticide (summary) |
| 1999 | Dow AgroSciences LLC | Spinosad, a natural product for control of chewing insects contained in Tracer Naturalyte™, SpinTor™, Success™, Precise™, and Conserve™; registered by EPA as a reduced-risk pesticide (summary) |
| 1998 | Dr. Karen M. Draths and Professor John W. Frost, Michigan State University | Catechol is a feedstock for some major pesticides; genetically manipulated microbes convert glucose to catechol, replacing the traditional synthesis of catechol from petroleum-derived benzene (summary) |
| 1998 | Rohn and Haas Company | Diacylhydrazines, a class of insecticides that disrupts molting in target species, contained in Confirm™, MACH 2™, and INTREPID™; registered by EPA as reduced-risk pesticides (summary) |
| 1997 | Albright & Wilson Americas (now Rhodia) | Tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate (THPS) biocides, a class of antimicrobial chemicals with low overall toxicity and rapid breakdown in the environment; registered by EPA as pesticides (summary) |
| 1996 | Monsanto Company | Redesigned synthesis of disodium iminodiacetate (DSIDA) eliminates cyanide, formaldehyde, and ammonia; DSIDA is the key intermediate in Roundup™ herbicide, registered by EPA (summary) |
| 1996 | Rohm and Haas Company | Sea-Nine™ marine antifoulant, the first new antifoulant registered by EPA in over a decade, replaces persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic tin-containing antifoulants (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cargill, Incorporated | Biobased BiOH™ polyols used to manufacture polyurethane foam cushions for automobile seats (summary) |
| 2006 | Professor Galen J. Suppes, University of Missouri-Columbia | Process to convert glycerin, a waste product of biodiesel production, into propylene glycol, a higher-value product that can replace ethylene glycol in automotive antifreeze and lower the cost of biodiesel fuel (summary) |
| 2005 | BASF Corporation | UV-cured primer for automotive refinishing has no diisocyanates, has very low VOCs, saves energy, and requires less time to apply and cure (summary) |
| 2003 | DuPont | Sorona® polyester, made from bioderived 1,3-propanediol, adds resilience and other beneficial characteristics to automotive upholstery or coatings (summary) |
| 2001 | PPG Industries | Corrosion-resistant electrodeposition coatings, used primarily in the automotive industry, contain yttrium instead of lead (summary) |
| 2000 | Bayer Corporation; Bayer AG | Two-component waterborne polyurethane coatings provide soft, leather-like coatings for hard plastic interior automobile surfaces such as instrument panels (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Professors Robert E. Maleczka, Jr. and Milton R. Smith, III, Michigan State University | Iridium catalysts used in a halogen-free synthesis of boronic esters, which are intermediates for many important, complex molecules (summary) |
| 2008 | SiGNa Chemistry, Inc. | Encapsulated sodium, lithium, and other alkali metals maintain the reactivity of the metals but are safe to handle, increasing their usefulness in a wide variety of synthetic reactions (summary) |
| 2007 | Professor Michael J. Krische, University of Texas at Austin | A class of chemical reactions makes bonds between carbon atoms using hydrogen and catalysts; make little waste (summary) |
| 2004 | Professor Charles A. Eckert and Professor Charles L. Liotta, Georgia Institute of Technology | Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), near critical-water, and CO2-expanded liquids; tunable benign solvents that facilitate reactions with increased selectivity, no waste, and facile separations (summary) |
| 2001 | Professor Chao-Jun Li, Tulane University | Transition metal catalysts for carbon--carbon bond formation in air and water under ambient conditions that eliminate volatile solvents and generate less waste (summary) |
| 2000 | Professor Chi-Huey Wong, The Scripps Research Institute | Enzymes and environmentally acceptable solvents replace traditional reactions requiring toxic metals and hazardous solvents; enzymes also enable otherwise impossible or impractical reactions (summary) |
| 1998 | Professor Barry M. Trost, Stanford University | Atom economy: maximizing the incorporation of atoms from the starting materials into the reaction product, thus minimizing both hazardous and other waste (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Professor Kaichang Li, Oregon State University; Columbia Forest Products; Hercules, Incorporated | Wood adhesive made from soy flour replaces urea-formaldehyde in manufactured wood products such as plywood, medium-density fiberboard, and particleboard (summary) |
| 2005 | Archer Daniels Midland Company; Novozymes | Archer RC™ reactive coalescent, used in architectural latex paint, replaces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (summary) |
| 2003 | Shaw Industries, Inc. | EcoWorx™ carpet tiles for commercial applications: the nylon yarn and polyolefin backing can be separated after use, providing complete "cradle-to-cradle" recycling (summary) |
| 2002 | Chemical Specialties, Inc. (now Viance) | ACQ Preserve® wood preservative, an arsenic- and chromium-free alternative for pressure-treated lumber (summary) |
| 2000 | Bayer Corporation; Bayer AG | High-performance, two-component waterborne polyurethane coatings for floors, kitchen cabinets, and furniture; replace most VOCs and HAPs (hazardous air pollutants) in traditional polyurethanes (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cargill, Incorporated | BiOH™ polyols made from renewable, biological sources replace petroleum-based polyols in flexible polyurethane foams (summary) |
| 2007 | Headwaters Technology Innovation | Hydrogen peroxide made directly from hydrogen and oxygen, by a selective nanocatalyst and without hazardous chemicals, can replace chlorine-containing bleaches and oxidants (summary) |
| 2006 | Professor Galen J. Suppes, University of Missouri-Columbia | Process to convert glycerin, a waste product of biodiesel production, into propylene glycol, which can replace more toxic ethylene glycol in many uses (summary) |
| 2005 | Archer Daniels Midland Company; Novozymes | Fats and oils for human consumption that contain no or little trans fatty acids are produced by enzymatic interesterification (summary) |
| 2005 | Metabolix, Inc. | Polyhydroxyalkanoates, plastics made inside genetically engineered microbes, provide a biobased alternative to petrochemical-based plastics (summary) |
| 2004 | Jeneil Biosurfactant Company | Rhamnolipids, biobased surfactants that are expected by a soil bacterium, are cost-effective to produce on a large scale; they are also less toxic and more biodegradable than traditional, petroleum-based surfactants (summary) |
| 2003 | DuPont | 1,3-propanediol (one of two monomers in Sorona® polyester) synthesized by a genetically engineered organism in an environmentally friendly manner costs less than 1,3-propanediol made from petroleum (summary) |
| 2003 | Süd-Chemie Inc. | Solid oxide catalysts made in a wastewater-free process produce clean fuels from natural gas, generate hydrogen from carbon monoxide and water, and carry out other high-volume catalytic reactions (summary) |
| 2002 | Cargill Dow LLC (now NatureWorks LLC) | Solvent-free production of NatureWorks™ polylactic acid (PLA), a biobased plastic, overcomes previous economic hurdles to high-volume production (summary) |
| 1999 | Biofine, Inc. (now BioMetics, Inc.) | Levulinic acid, a building block for more than a dozen commodity chemicals, is synthesized by high-temperature, dilute-acid hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass (summary) |
| 1998 | Argonne National Laboratory | Membrane-mediated synthesis of ethyl lactate from carbohydrate feedstock allows high-volume production (summary) |
| 1998 | Dr. Karen M. Draths and Professor John W. Frost, Mighigan State University | Adipic acid and catechol are synthesized from glucose by genetically engineered microbes; these two chemicals of major industrial importance are traditionally made from petroleum (summary) |
| 1998 | Flexsys America L.P. | 4-Aminodiphenylamine, a key intermediate for a rubber preservative, is synthesized without using chlorine (summary) |
| 1996 | Professor Mark Holtzapple, Texas A&M University | Conversion of waste biomass (including manure agricultural residues) into ruminant animal feeds, chemicals, and fuel (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | SC Fluids, Inc. | Supercritical CO2 removes photoresist from semiconductor wafers, replacing hazardous solvents and corrosive chemicals (summary) |
| 1998 | Argonne National Laboratory | Ethyl lactate potentially replaces hazardous petroleum-derived solvents in electronics manufacturing and many other applications due to its favorable economics (summary) |
| 1997 | Legacy Systems, Inc. | Coldstrip™, an environmentally friendly, wet cleaning technology for the semiconductor, flat panel display, and micromachining industries, replaces highly corrosive Piranha solutions (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Archer Daniels Midland Company; Novozymes | Healthier fats and oils for use in food products produced by enzymatic transesterification, reducing or eliminating trans fat from these products (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Greenlist™ process, a system that rates the environmental footprint of the ingredients within 17 functional categories, to reformulate consumer products (summary) |
| 2001 | Bayer Corporation; Bayer AG (technology acquired by LANXESS) | Baypure™ CX iminodisuccinate, a biodegradable, nontoxic chelating agent used in household and industrial cleaning formulations (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Professor Galen J. Suppes, University of Missouri-Columbia | A waste product of biodiesel fuel production, glycerin, converted inexpensively into propylene glycol, which can replace ethylene glycol in automotive antifreeze (summary) |
| 2003 | Süd-Chemie, Inc. | Clean fuels produced from natural gas and hydrogen generated from carbon monoxide using solid oxide catalysts synthesized in a wastewater-free process (summary) |
| 1996 | Professor Mark Holtzapple, Texas A&M University | Oxygenated fuels (e.g., alcohols) made from waste biomass, including municipal solid waste, sewage sludge, manure, and agricultural residues (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | NovaSterilis Inc. | Terminal sterilization of allograft tissue, medical devices, and biopolymers using supercritical CO2 and peroxyacetic acid to replace hazardous ethylene oxide and gamma radiation (summary) |
| 1997 | Imation (technology acquired by Eastman Kodak Company) | Medical imaging using DryView™ photothermographic technology to replace silver halide photographic films and other hazardous photographic chemicals (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Arkon Consultants; NuPro Technologies, Inc. | Flexographic printing washout solvent system uses less volatile, less toxic solvents that are reclaimed and recycled (summary) |
| 2005 | Archer Daniels Midland Company; Novozymes | Archer RC™ reactive coalescent: propylene glycol monoesters of sunflower oil fatty acids replace VOCs in latex paints (summary) |
| 2005 | BASF Corporation | UV-curable, one-component, low-VOC primer for automotive refinishing that performs better than conventional urethane technologies (summary) |
| 2004 | Engelhard Corporation (now BASF Corporation) | RightFit™ azo pigments to replace pigments based on lead, chromium(IV), and cadmium in the red, orange, and yellow color range (summary) |
| 2003 | Professor Richard A. Gross, Polytechnic University | Reactive components of polyurethane coatings: polyol-polyesters made by immobilized yeast lipases (summary) |
| 2001 | PPG Industries | Cationic electrodeposition coatings made with yttrium, which is far less toxic than the lead it replaces; primarily used in the automotive industry (summary) |
| 2000 | Bayer Corporation; Bayer AG | Two-component waterborne polyurethane coatings for high performance uses eliminate (or minimize) VOCs and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) (summary) |
| 2000 | RevTech, Inc. | Envirogluv™ process: solvent- and heavy metal-free, UV-cured inks for decorating glass bottles and ceramicware, such as for beverages and cosmetics (summary) |
| 1998 | Argonne National Laboratory | Ethyl lactate, a low-cost, biodegradable, less toxic solvent, potentially replaces hazardous petroleum-derived solvents in paints and coatings, printing, and other applications (summary) |
| 1996 | Rohm and Haas Company | Sea-Nine™ marine antifoulant, replaces persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic tin-containing antifoulants for coating ship hulls (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Codexis, Inc. | The key chiral building block for atorvastatin calcium (the active ingredient in Lipitor® used to lower cholesterol) synthesized by three biocatalysts greatly improved by directed evolution (summary) |
| 2006 | Merck & Co., Inc. | Sitagliptin, the active ingredient in Januvia™, used to treat type 2 diabetes, made by a novel green synthesis for ß-amino acids (summary) |
| 2006 | Merck & Co., Inc. | Aprepitant, the active ingredient in Emend®, used to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, made by a convergent, highly atom-economical safer synthesis that also saves water (summary) |
| 2004 | Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | Paclitaxel, the active ingredient in Taxol®, used to treat ovarian and breast cancer, synthesized by plant cell fermentation (summary) |
| 2002 | Pfizer, Inc. | Sertraline, the active ingredient in Zoloft®, used to treat depression, synthesized by a process that eliminates waste, reduces solvents, and doubles overall product yield (summary) |
| 2000 | Roche Colorado Corporation | Ganciclovir, the active ingredient in Cytovene®, a potent antiviral agent, synthesized by the Guanine Triester Process, eliminates two hazardous solid waste streams and 11 chemicals (summary) |
| 1999 | Lilly Research Laboratories | A drug candidate for the treatment of epilepsy, synthesized by a process including a yeast-mediated asymmetric reaction that eliminates chromium waste and large volumes of solvent (summary) |
| 1997 | BHC Company (now BASF Corporation) | Ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Advil™, Motrin™, and other over-the-counter pain relievers, synthesized in three catalytic steps with virtually no wasted atoms (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Engelhard Corporation (now BASF Corporation) | RightFit™ azo pigments based on calcium, strontium, and barium replace traditional pigments based on lead, chromium(IV), and cadmium in the red, orange, and yellow color range (summary) |
| 2000 | RevTech, Inc. | Biodegradable organic pigments: central to the UV-curable, heavy-metal-free, very low VOC inks of the Envirogluv™ glass decorating technology (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cargill, Incorporated | BiOH™ polyols made from renewable, biological sources replace petroleum-based polyols in flexible polyurethane foams (summary) |
| 2006 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Saran Wrap plastic reformulated using Greenlist™ process, a system that rates the environmental footprint of the ingredients within 17 functional categories (summary) |
| 2005 | Metabolix, Inc. | Bioplastics (polyhydroxyalkanoates) made within genetically engineered organisms replace petroleum-based plastics in a wide variety of uses (summary) |
| 2005 | Professor Robin D. Rogers, The University of Alabama | Thermoplastics to replace polypropylene and polyethylene are among the advanced materials that can be made using ionic liquids dissolve a number of "difficult" polymers, including cellulose (summary) |
| 2004 | Engelhard Corporation (now BASF Corporation) | Coloring plastics with RightFit™ pigments: organic azo pigments in the red, orange, and yellow range with brilliant colors, high color strength, and good heat stability (summary) |
| 2003 | DuPont | Sorona® polyester and other new plastics can be made from 1,3-propanediol, a monomer synthesized by a genetically engineered microorganism instead of by a traditional, expensive chemical synthesis from petroleum (summary) |
| 2003 | Professor Richard A. Gross, Polytechnic University | Strong, tough plastics (polyesters) made by immobilized yeast lipases, eliminating heavy metal catalysts and toxic solvents; intermediate in properties between poly(,-caprolactone) and polyethylene (summary) |
| 2003 | Shaw Industries, Inc. | EcoWorx™ polyolefin thermoplastic backing for carpet tile: free of plasticizers and polyvinyl chloride (PVC); compatible with nylon 6 carpet fiber for separate recycling of backing and nylon (summary) |
| 2002 | Cargill Dow LLC (now NatureWorks LLC) | Polylactic acid (PLA) plastic for uses such as cups, food containers, candy wrappers, furnishing for home and office; made in a catalyzed, solvent-free process from annually renewable resources (summary) |
| 1998 | Dr. Karen M. Draths and Professor John W. Frost, Michigan State University | Adipic acid, a key intermediate for nylon 6,6, made by genetically manipulated microbes rather than from petroleum-derived benzene (summary) |
| 1996 | The Dow Chemical Company | Polystyrene foam sheet made with 100 percent carbon dioxide as the blowing agent, replacing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or flammable hydrocarbons (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Battelle | Biobased resins for toners used in laser printers and copiers are easily removed from paper making it easier to recycle (summary) |
| 2006 | Arkon Consultants; NuPro Technologies, Inc. | Flexographic printing system eliminates hazardous solvents, reduces both explosion potential and emissions during solvent recycling, increasing worker safety (summary) |
| 2000 | RevTech, Inc. | Envirogluv™ process to print top-quality labels directly on glass; Envirogluv™ inks are UV-cured and do not contain heavy metals (summary) |
| 1998 | Argonne National Laboratory | Ethyl lactate (a biodegradable, less-toxic solvent) potentially replaces hazardous petroleum-derived solvents in printing and many other applications (summary) |
| 1997 | Imation (technology acquired by Eastman Kodak Company) | DryView™ photothermographic technology replaces silver halide photographic films in the panchromatic film market including medical radiology and the printing industry (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Battelle | Increased recycling of waste paper is possible because biobased resins that are part of toner for photocopiers and printers are easily removed during the de-inking processes (summary) |
| 2005 | Professor Robin D. Rogers, The University of Alabama | Cellulose from virtually any source (including fibrous, amorphous, pulp, paper, etc.) can be dissolved and processed in ionic liquids to create advanced, cellulose-based materials (summary) |
| 2004 | Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. | More efficient processing of recycled papers and the production of higher-quality paper using Optimize® to hydrolyze polyvinyl acetate and other major sticky contaminants of recycled paper (summary) |
| 2000 | Bayer Corporation; Bayer AG | Paper products: one of many current uses for high-performance, two-component waterborne polyurethanes that eliminate most or all organic solvents used in conventional polyurethanes (summary) |
| 1999 | Biofine, Inc. (now BioMetics, Inc.) | Conversion of waste cellulose of low-cost biomass wastes, including paper mill sludge, unrecyclable waste paper, and waste wood, to levulinic acid, a building block for many useful chemical products (summary) |
| 1999 | Professor Terry Collins, Carnegie Mellon University | TAML™ catalysts activate hydrogen peroxide to bleach wood pulp or waste water (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | PYROCOOL Technologies, Inc. | Pyrocool™ fire extinguishing foam, a highly effective formulation of biodegradable surfactants: less toxic than alternatives, inherently safer to use, far less potential for environmental damage (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Jeneil Biosurfactant Company | Rhamnolipid biosurfactants, a natural, less-toxic alternative to synthetic surfactants, provide good emulsification, wetting, detergency, and foaming properties (summary) |
| 2002 | Professor Eric J. Beckman, University of Pittsburgh | Detergents (polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS), poly(ether carbonates), and acetate-functional polyethers) increase the solubility of many compounds in supercritical CO2 (summary) |
| 2001 | Bayer Corporation; Bayer AG (technology acquired by LANXESS) | Baypure™ CX iminodisuccinate, a biodegradable, nontoxic chelating agent used in detergents and household and industrial cleaners (summary) |
| 1998 | Argonne National Laboratory | Ethyl lactate, a low-cost, biodegradable, less-toxic solvent, potentially replaces hazardous petroleum-derived solvents in soaps, detergents, and many other applications (summary) |
| 1997 | Professor Joseph M. DeSimone, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and North Carolina State University (NCSU) | Surfactants for use in liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2): greatly increase the solubility of many other substances in CO2, allowing CO2 use in various cleaning processes (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Professor Robin D. Rogers, The University of Alabama | Cotton fiber (including waste) is one source of cellulose that be dissolved and processed in ionic liquids to create advanced, cellulose-based materials (summary) |
| 2003 | DuPont | Sorona® polyester made possible by the biocatalytic production of 1,3-propanediol to replace a petroleum-based synthesis; characterized by softness, stretch and recovery, easy care, stain resistance, and colorfastness (summary) |
| 2002 | Cargill Dow LLC (now NatureWorks LLC) | Fibers made from biobased NatureWorks™ polylactic acid (PLA) can be woven into textile fabric or blended with other fibers, such as cotton, before weaving; marketed as Ingeo™ fibers (summary) |
| 2001 | Novozymes North America, Inc. | Cotton wax from cotton fiber, yarn, and fabric is removed by BioPreparation™ enzyme technology in preparation for dyeing and finishing the cotton; this technology eliminates corrosive chemicals and saves water (summary) |
| 1999 | Professor Terry Collins, Carnegie Mellon University | Transfer of dyes between fabrics during laundering may be prevented by TAML™ catalysts and peroxide; TAML™ catalysts also enhance stain removal and allow washing machines to use less water and energy (summary) |
| 1998 | Argonne National Laboratory | Textile manufacturing potentially made safer by replacing hazardous petroleum-derived solvents with ethyl lactate, a low-cost, biodegradable, nontoxic solvent; many additional applications, too (summary) |
| 1997 | Professor Josephy M. DeSimone, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and North Carolina State University (NCSU) | Garment cleaning in liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) made possible by surfactants that greatly increase the solubility of many other substances in CO2; this cleaning system replaces hazardous solvents (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Nalco Company | Fluorescent-tagged molecules in the 3D TRASAR® system detect the formation of mineral scale, microbial growth, and corrosion in cooling water systems, adding appropriate chemicals only when required (summary) |
| 2001 | Bayer Corporation; Bayer AG (technology acquired by LANXESS) | Industrial water treated in Baypure™ CX iminodisuccinate, a biodegradable, nontoxic chelating agent replacing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (summary) |
| 1999 | Nalco Company | Wastewater streams treated with polyacrylates dispersed in aqueous ammonium sulfate, eliminating hydrocarbon solvent and surfactants required in traditional emulsion polymerizations (summary) |
| 1997 | Albright & Wilson Americas (now Rhodia) | Industrial water, including wastewater from offshore oil and gas production, treated with tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS), a biodegradable, less-toxic biocide (summary) |
| 1996 | Donlar Corporation (now NanoChem Solutions, Inc.) | Industrial water treated with thermal polyaspartic acid (TPA), a biodegradable, nontoxic scale and corrosion inhibitor, replacing nondegradable polyacrylates (summary) |