Green Chemistry Challenge Award Recipients by Industry Sector
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Index of Green Chemistry Challenge Award winners by industry sector.
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DISCLAIMER: The short descriptions provided in this section were derived by EPA from the winning entries received for the 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.
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| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Dow AgroSciences LLC | An aqueous microcapsule suspension of nitrapyrin, a nitrification inhibitor, that is compatible with common nitrogen fertilizers, decreases fertilizer runoff, decreases solvents usage, and improves crop yields (summary) |
| 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) | BaypureTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Vestaron Corporation | Spear®, a peptide insecticide produced by yeast fermentation, replaces neonicotinoid pesticides, with minimal to no toxicity for humans and bees (summary) |
| 2010 | Clarke | Encapsulating spinosad, a 1999 award winner and reduced risk pesticide that is unstable in water, within a plaster matrix creates a time-release pesticide for aqueous environments (summary) |
| 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. (now Bayer CropScience) | 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 | SentriconTM 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 NaturalyteTM, SpinTorTM, SuccessTM, PreciseTM, and ConserveTM; 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 | Rohm and Haas Company (now Dow Chemical Company) | Diacylhydrazines, a class of insecticides that disrupts molting in target species, contained in ConfirmTM, MACH 2TM, and INTREPIDTM; 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 RoundupTM herbicide, registered by EPA (summary) |
| 1996 | Rohm and Haas Company (now Dow Chemical Company) | Sea-NineTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Faraday Technology, Inc. | Hard chrome coatings for aircraft parts, such as pneumatic tubes, can be electroplated using trivalent chromium, Cr(III), instead of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI) (summary) |
| 2011 | Genomatica | Automotive plastics are one of the major uses for 1,4-butanediol, now made by fermentation of readily available sugars rather than from petroleum (summary) |
| 2010 | Professor James C. Liao, Easel Biotechnologies, LLC and University of California, Los Angeles | Butanol, isobutanol, and other C3-8 alcohols made by genetically engineered microorganisms are good fuels with several advantages over ethanol (summary) |
| 2010 | LS9, Inc. | Renewable PetroleumTM including UltraCleanTM Diesel fuel and other advanced fuels made from fermentable sugars by genetically engineered microorganisms (summary) |
| 2009 | Virent Energy Systems, Inc. | Gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel made from sugars, starch, or cellulose by the BioForming® process (summary) |
| 2007 | Cargill, Incorporated | Biobased BiOHTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Professor Paul J. Chirik, Princeton University | Hydrosilylation reactions using iron or cobalt catalysts instead of precious metal catalysts for the production of silicones used in a wide range of consumer products (summary) |
| 2015 | Professor Eugene Y.-X. Chen, Colorado State University | Condensation reaction using 5-hydroxymethylfurfural for the production of renewable chemicals, fuels, and polymeric materials (summary) |
| 2015 | Renmatix | Cellulosic sugars created from biomass using supercritical water can be used for affordable renewable materials (summary) |
| 2014 | Professor Shannon S. Stahl, University of Wisconsin-Madison | Alcohol oxidations preformed with copper catalysts and oxygen from air are selective, tolerate other functional groups, and proceed rapidly under mild conditions (summary) |
| 2013 | Professor Richard P. Wool, University of Delaware | High-performance materials for transportation, furniture, electronics, packaging, and apparel can be made from modified plant oils and biobased fibers (summary) |
| 2011 | Professor Bruce H. Lipshutz, University of California, Santa Barbara | Specialized detergents create minute spheres (micelles) in water allowing reactions that would normally not occur in water to proceed smoothly, replacing organic solvents (summary) |
| 2009 | Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Carnegie Mellon University | Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) used for industrial production of high-performance, safer polymers in a wide variety of applications (summary) |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway Company | Bio-based, formaldehyde-free thermoset binder replaces petroleum-derived binder systems in fiberglass mats used in carpeting (summary) |
| 2013 | The Dow Chemical Company | Paint performance and eco-profile are improved using polymer-titanium dioxide (TiO2) composite that more evenly distributes TiO2 particles in the paint (summary) |
| 2011 | The Sherwin-Williams Company | Water-based, high-gloss alkyd–acrylic paints with low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) perform as well as or better than oil-based alkyd paints or other low-VOC alkyd paints (summary) |
| 2009 | The Procter & Gamble Company; Cook Composites & Polymers Company (Chempol® technology acquired by Arkema Coating Resins) |
Chempol® alkyd resins and Sefose® biobased oils used to reformulate alkyd paints and coatings with lower levels of volatile organic compounds (summary) |
| 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 | Archer RCTM reactive coalescent, used in architectural latex paint, replaces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (summary) |
| 2003 | Shaw Industries, Inc. | EcoWorxTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Genomatica | 1,3-butylene glycol, used in cosmetics and personal care products, produced by engineered E. coli (summary) |
| 2019 | Kalion, Inc. | Glucaric acid, a biodegradable, low-hazard chemical with broad potential to replace hazardous, petroleum-based chemicals, successfully produced from E. coli fermentation (summary) |
| 2015 | Synthetic Oils and Lubricants of Texas, Inc. (Soltex) | Polyisobutylene, made using a solid catalyst, can be used to produce additives for lubricants and gasoline (summary) |
| 2014 | Solazyme, Inc. | Tailored fatty acids produced by engineered microalgae can be used in lubricants, personal care products, and fuels (summary) |
| 2012 | Cytec Industries Inc. | Producing alumina (the raw material for aluminum) from bauxite using Cytec's MAX HT® Bayer sodalite scale inhibitor saves energy and reduces hazardous waste (summary) |
| 2011 | BioAmber, Inc. | Succinic acid, widely used in foods, drugs, and pharmaceuticals, produced by successfully scaled-up fermentation with a genetically engineered E. coli biocatalyst (summary) |
| 2011 | Genomatica | 1,4-Butanediol, a high-volume commodity chemical used to make polymers, now made by bacterial fermentation (summary) |
| 2010 | The Dow Chemical Company; BASF |
Propylene oxide, one of the biggest volume chemical intermediates in the world, made by an alternate, catalytic route (summary) |
| 2010 | Professor James C. Liao, Easel Biotechnologies, LLC and University of California, Los Angeles | Butanol, isobutanol, and other C3-8 alcohols made by genetically engineered microorganisms, including photosynthetic microorganisms, have uses as chemical building blocks and fuels (summary) |
| 2010 | LS9, Inc. | Alkanes, olefins, fatty alcohols, and fatty esters including Ultra CleanTM Diesel fuel are products of "biorefineries" that use engineered established industrial microorganisms (summary) |
| 2009 | Virent Energy Systems, Inc. | Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other hydrocarbon chemicals made from sugars, starch, or cellulose by the BioForming® process (summary) |
| 2007 | Cargill, Incorporated | BiOHTM 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 excreted 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. (now a Clariant Group Company) | 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 NatureWorksTM polylactic acid (PLA), a biobased plastic, overcomes previous economic hurdles to high-volume production (summary) |
| 1999 | Biofine, Inc. (now DPS BioMetics) | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | QD Vision, Inc. | Flat screen displays are illuminated by high-quality quantum dots produced by a greener processs (summary) |
| 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. | ColdstripTM, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Professor Sanjoy Banerjee, City University of New York | Rechargeable Zn-MnO2 batteries with minimal capacity degradation and reduced hazard compared to lead-acid and lithium-ion technologies (summary) |
| 2017 | UniEnergy Technologies LLC | Vanadium redox flow batteries for long storage duration with high energy density and broad operating temperature (summary) |
| 2013 | Cargill, Inc. | Dielectric coolant made from vegetable oil replaces mineral oil, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), or other halogenated compounds in electric transformers (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Solberg Company | Highly effective aqueous fire-fighting foam uses non-fluorinated surfactants and sugars in place of fluorinated surfactants (summary) |
| 2013 | Cargill, Inc. | Low-flammability, soy-based dielectric fluid replaces mineral oil in electric transformers (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | BioAmber, Inc. | Succinic acid, widely used either directly or as a building block in foods, produced by successfully scaled-up fermentation with a genetically engineered E. coli biocatalyst (summary) |
| 2009 | CEM Corporation | Fast, accurate analysis for protein content of food ingredients distinguishes between protein and adulterants such as melamine (summary) |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Solazyme, Inc. | Tailored fatty acids produced by engineered microalgae replace those from traditional sources, such as palm, corn, soy and other plants (summary) |
| 2012 | Elevance Renewable Resources, Inc. | Difunctional specialty chemicals with many uses in formulated products combine the benefits of biobased chemicals and petrochemicals (summary) |
| 2011 | BioAmber, Inc. | Succinic acid, widely used either directly or as a building block in foods, drugs, and pharmaceuticals, produced by successfully scaled-up fermentation with a genetically engineered E. coli biocatalyst (summary) |
| 2009 | Eastman Chemical Company | A variety of esters for use in cosmetics and personal care products made in a solvent-free enzymatic process (summary) |
| 2005 | Archer Daniels Midland Company | Archer RCTM reactive coalescent, used in architectural latex paint, replaces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (summary) |
| 2004 | Jeneil Biosurfactant Company | Rhamnolipids, biobased surfactants that are excreted 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) |
| 2001 | Bayer Corporation; Bayer AG (technology acquired by LANXESS) | BaypureTM CX iminodisuccinate, a biodegradable, nontoxic chelating agent used in household and industrial cleaning formulations (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) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Clarke | Formulating spinosad, a 1999 award winner and reduced risk pesticide that is unstable in water, within a plaster matrix creates a time-release pesticide for aqueous environments (summary) |
| 2009 | The Procter & Gamble Company; Cook Composites & Polymers Company (Chempol® technology acquired by Arkema Coating Resins) |
Alkyd paints and coatings reformulated with lower levels of volatile organic compounds (summary) |
| 2006 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | GreenlistTM process, a system that rates the environmental footprint of the ingredients within 17 functional categories, to reformulate consumer products (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | CB&I; Albemarle | Alkylate, a clean gasoline component derived from isobutene and light olefins, is made using a zeolite catalyst instead of toxic, corrosive liquid acid catalysts (summary) |
| 2015 | Algenol | Fuel-grade ethanol is made using proprietary cyanobacteria, sunlight, carbon dioxide and saltwater (summary) |
| 2015 | LanzaTech Inc. | Ethanol is made from waste gases using an engineered microbe (summary) |
| 2015 | Renmatix | Cellulosic ethanol is made from biomass using supercritical water (summary) |
| 2014 | Amyris | Biobased diesel fuel is made from β-farnesene, produced by fermentation using an engineered baker’s yeast (summary) |
| 2010 | LS9, Inc. | Renewable PetroleumTM including UltraCleanTM Diesel fuel and other advanced fuels made from fermentable sugars by genetically engineered microorganisms (summary) |
| 2010 | Professor James C. Liao, Easel Biotechnologies, LLC and University of California, Los Angeles | Butanol, isobutanol, and other C3-8 alcohols made by genetically engineered microorganisms are good fuels with several advantages over ethanol (summary) |
| 2009 | Virent Energy Systems, Inc. | Gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel made from sugars, starch, or cellulose by the BioForming® process (summary) |
| 2008 | SiGNa Chemistry, Inc. | Encapsulated sodium, lithium, and other alkali metals can safely produce hydrogen for fuel cells and may also be useful in removing sulfur from fuels (summary) |
| 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. (now a Clariant Group Company) | 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 DryViewTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Professor Steven Skerlos, University of Michigan and Fusion Coolant Systems | Pure-Cut® uses supercritical CO2 to replace traditional metalworking fluids for lubrication and cooling, reducing hazard, water waste, and lubricant demand (summary) |
| 2017 | Professor Eric Schelter, University of Pennsylvania |
Recovery and recycling of rare earth metals from mixtures of metals such as in certain renewable energy technologies and consumer electronics (summary) |
| 2013 | Faraday Technology, Inc. | Hard chrome electroplating can use trivalent chromium, Cr(III), instead of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), when employing a reverse pulse waveform (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Hybrid Coating Technologies/Nanotech Industries | High-performance polyurethanes for coatings and foam are manufactured without isocyanates (summary) |
| 2013 | The Dow Chemical Company | Paint performance and eco-profile are improved using polymer-titanium dioxide (TiO2) composite that more evenly distributes TiO2 particles in the paint (summary) |
| 2011 | The Sherwin-Williams Company | Water-based, high-performance alkyd–acrylic paints contain very low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (summary) |
| 2009 | The Procter & Gamble Company; Cook Composites & Polymers Company (Chempol® technology acquired by Arkema Coating Resins) |
Alkyd paints and coatings with Chempol® alkyd resins and Sefose® biobased oils contain lower levels of volatile organic compounds (summary) |
| 2006 | Arkon Consultants; NuPro Technologies, Inc. (now Eastman Kodak) | Flexographic printing washout solvent system uses less volatile, less toxic solvents that are reclaimed and recycled (summary) |
| 2005 | Archer Daniels Midland Company | Archer RCTM 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) | RightFitTM 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. | EnvirogluvTM 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 (now Dow Chemical Company) | Sea-NineTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Merck & Co. | Synthesis of the chiral pronucleotide drug uprifosbuvir, for treatment of Hepatitis C, with high yield and low waste using a new catalyst (summary) |
| 2019 | Merck & Co. | Ceftolozane sulfate, the active ingredient in Zerbaxa™, used to treat gram-negative bacterial infections that have become resistant to conventional antibiotics, manufactured with a more efficient lower-waste process (summary) |
| 2017 | Merck & Co., Inc. | New recyclable organocatalyst reduces waste and improves yield in the manufacture of the antiviral drug Letermovir (summary) |
| 2017 | Amgen Inc. / Bachem | Improved peptide manufacturing process for etelcalcetide, with applicability for other peptide drugs, decreasing waste and manufacturing time (summary) |
| 2014 | Professor Shannon S. Stahl, University of Wisconsin-Madison | Complex pharmaceutical active ingredients may be made using alcohol oxidations preformed with copper catalysts and oxygen from air (summary) |
| 2012 | Codexis, Inc. and Professor Yi Tang, University of California, Los Angeles | Simvastatin, a leading drug for treating high cholesterol, manufactured from a natural product using an engineered enzyme and a practical, low-cost feedstock (summary) |
| 2010 | Merck & Co., Inc.; Codexis, Inc. |
Sitagliptin, the active ingredient in JanuviaTM, a treatment for type 2 diabetes, manufactured using an evolved, highly stereoselective transaminase (summary) |
| 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 JanuviaTM, used to treat type 2 diabetes, made by a novel green synthesis for ß-amino acids (summary) |
| 2005 | 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 (now CordenPharma Colorado) | 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 AdvilTM, MotrinTM, 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) | RightFitTM 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 EnvirogluvTM glass decorating technology (summary) |
| Year | Winner | Description of the Winning Technology in Relation to the Topic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Newlight Technologies | AirCarbon™, a carbon-negative thermoplastic polymer, is made from greenhouse gas emissions using a proprietary biocatalyst instead of petroleum-based processes (summary) |
| 2016 | Verdezyne | Dodecanedioic acid (DDDA), a key intermediate for production of nylon 6,12, is made from fatty acid feedstocks at ambient conditions rather than from petroleum-based butadiene (summary) |
| 2012 | Professor Geoffrey W. Coates, Cornell University | Plastics made from carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) using new catalysts include a plastic coating to replace the bisphenol A epoxy coatings lining food and drink cans (summary) |
| 2012 | Professor Robert M. Waymouth, Stanford University and Dr. James L. Hedrick, IBM Almaden Research Center | Plastics made using metal-free organic catalysts eliminate the hazards of metal catalysts; other plastics depolymerized with other organic catalysts enable cradle-to-cradle recycling (summary) |
| 2011 | Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. | NEXARTM is a new family of sulfonated pentablock copolymers manufactured without halogenated solvents that form high-flow membranes used for reverse osmosis water filtration (summary) |
| 2007 | Cargill, Incorporated | BiOHTM 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 GreenlistTM 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 RightFitTM 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(ε-caprolactone) and polyethylene (summary) |
| 2003 | Shaw Industries, Inc. | EcoWorxTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Dow Chemical Company / Papierfabrik August Koehler SE | Thermal paper based on the physical collapse of air voids replacing chemical developers and other reactive chemistries (summary) |
| 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. (now Eastman Kodak) | Flexographic printing system eliminates hazardous solvents, reduces both explosion potential and emissions during solvent recycling, increasing worker safety (summary) |
| 2000 | RevTech, Inc. | EnvirogluvTM process to print top-quality labels directly on glass; EnvirogluvTM 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) | DryViewTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Dow Chemical Company / Papierfabrik August Koehler SE | Thermal paper based on the physical collapse of air voids replacing chemical developers and other reactive chemistries (summary) |
| 2012 | Buckman International, Inc. | Increased paper strength and quality result from using Maximyze® cellulase enzymes to increase "fibrils" binding wood fibers (summary) |
| 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 DPS BioMetics) | 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 | TAMLTM 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. | PyrocoolTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | WSI | TRUpath™ detergent uses biodegradable surfactants and works at colder temperatures than traditional detergent formulations and is phosphate-, EDTA-, and nonylphenol ethoxylate-free (summary) |
| 2012 | Elevance Renewable Resources, Inc. | Cold-water detergents are one product formulated with novel difunctional chemicals that combine the attributes of biobased chemicals and petrochemicals (summary) |
| 2011 | Professor Bruce H. Lipshutz, University of California, Santa Barbara | TPGS-750-M is a "designer" surfactant and a second-generation nanomicelle-forming amphiphile composed of safe, inexpensive ingredients: vitamin E, succinic acid, and a methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (summary) |
| 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) | BaypureTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Life Technologies Corporation | Reagents for DNA testing are made with a one-pot, three-step synthesis that is much more efficient, eliminates hazardous solvents, and greatly reduces waste (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 NatureWorksTM polylactic acid (PLA) can be woven into textile fabric or blended with other fibers, such as cotton, before weaving; marketed as IngeoTM fibers (summary) |
| 2001 | Novozymes North America, Inc. | Cotton wax from cotton fiber, yarn, and fabric is removed by BioPreparationTM 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 TAMLTM catalysts and peroxide; TAMLTM 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. | NEXARTM high-flow membranes for reverse osmosis water filtration for water desalination and other filtration uses (summary) |
| 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 BaypureTM 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) |