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2009 Award Recipient Podcasts
- Greener Synthetic Pathways Award
- Greener Reaction Conditions Award
- Designing Greener Chemicals Award
- Small Business Award
- Academic Award
Greener Synthetic Pathways Award
- Making Cosmetic Ingredients Safely
Audio Program (MP3): 
(1 MB, 1:07 minutes) Right-click the link to download the MP3 file.
Host: Dr. Richard Engler
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
US Environmental Protection Agency
Length: 1:07 minutes
[Intro music playing]
Dr. Richard Engler:
I'm Dr. Richard Engler of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Eastman Chemical Company was selected as the 2009 winner of EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the Greener Synthetic Pathways category. The title of this project is: Solvent-Free, Biocatalytic Process for Cosmetic and Personal Care Ingredients.
Let me tell you a little more about this award-winning technology. Esters are an important class of ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products. Usually, they are manufactured by harsh chemical methods that use strong acids and potentially hazardous solvents; these methods also require a great deal of energy. Eastman's new method uses enzymes to make esters, saving energy and avoiding both strong acids and organic solvents. This method is so gentle that Eastman can make esters that would not stand up to the traditional methods, so were never before commercially available.
To learn more about this innovation and green chemistry in general, please go to epa dot gov slash green chemistry.
Read more about this innovation.
Greener Reaction Conditions Award
- Efficient Test for Food Protein
Audio Program (MP3): (1.1 MB, 1:10 minutes) Right-click the link to download the MP3 file.
Host: Dr. Richard Engler
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
US Environmental Protection Agency
Length: 1:10 minutes
[Intro music playing]
Dr. Richard Engler:
I'm Dr. Richard Engler of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. CEM Corporation was selected as the 2009 winner of EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the Greener Reaction Conditions category. The title of this project is: Innovative Analyzer that Tags Proteins for Fast, Accurate Results without Hazardous Chemicals or High Temperatures.
Let me tell you a little more about this award-winning technology. Each year, laboratories test millions of samples of food for their protein content. Such tests generally use a large amount of hazardous substances and energy. CEM has developed a fast, automative process that uses less toxic reagents and less energy. The new system can eliminate 5-and-a-half million pounds of hazardous wastes generated by traditional testing in the United States each year. What's more, it distinguishes protein from other chemicals that may taint food, such as melamine.
To learn more about this innovation and green chemistry in general, please go to epa dot gov slash green chemistry.
Read more about this innovation.
Designing Greener Chemicals Award
- High-Gloss, Low-Odor Paints
Audio Program (MP3): (1.3 MB, 1:27 minutes) Right-click the link to download the MP3 file.
Host: Dr. Richard Engler
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
US Environmental Protection Agency
Length: 1:27 minutes
[Intro music playing]
Dr. Richard Engler:
I'm Dr. Richard Engler of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Two companies, Proctor & Gamble jointly with Cook Composites & Polymers, were selected as the 2009 winners of EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the Designing Greener Chemicals category. The title of this project is: Chempol® MPS Resins and Sefose® Sucrose Esters that Allow High-Performing, Low- VOC Alkyd Paints and Coatings.
Let me tell you a little more about this technology. Conventional oil-based "alkyd" paints provide durable, high-gloss coatings but use hazardous solvents to achieve a smooth, finished look. Proctor & Gamble and Cook Composites and Polymers were developing innovative Chempol® MPS paints formulations using vegetable-based Sefose® oils to replace petroleum-based solvents. Sefose® oils, made from sugar and vegetable oil, enable new high-performance alkyd paints with less than half the solvent. Paints with less hazardous solvent will help improve worker safety, reduce fumes indoors as the paint dries, and improve air quality while still providing a high-quality painted surface.
To learn more about this innovation and green chemistry in general, please go to epa dot gov slash green chemistry.
Read more about this innovation.
Small Business Award
- Hydrocarbon Fuels from Plant Sugars
Audio Program (MP3): (1.1 MB, 1:08 minutes) Right-click the link to download the MP3 file.
Host: Dr. Richard Engler
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
US Environmental Protection Agency
Length: 1:08 minutes
[Intro music playing]
Dr. Richard Engler:
I'm Dr. Richard Engler of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Virent Energy Systems, Incorporated was selected as the 2009 winner of EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the Small Business Category. The title of this project is: BioForming® Process: The Catalytic Conversion of Plant Sugars into Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels.
Let me tell you a little more about this award-winning technology. Virent's BioForming® process is a water-based, catalytic method to make gasoline, diesel, or jet fuels from sugar, starch, or cellulosic plants. This process requires little energy other than the plant biomass. The process is flexible and can be modified to generate different fuels based on current market conditions. It can compete economically with current prices for conventional petroleum-based fuels. Of course, using plants, a renewable resource, helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
To learn more about this innovation and green chemistry in general, please go to epa dot gov slash green chemistry.
Read more about this innovation.
Academic Award
- Making Polymers a New, Green Way
Audio Program (MP3): (1.1 MB, 1:11 minutes) Right-click the link to download the MP3 file.
Length: 1:11 minutes
[Intro music playing]
Dr. Richard Engler:
I'm Dr. Richard Engler of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Professor Krzysztof Mata-chef-ski of Carnegie Mellon University was selected as the 2009 winner of EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the Academic Category. The title of this project is: Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: A Low-impact Polymerization Using a Copper Catalyst and Environmentally Friendly Reducing Agents.
Let me tell you a little more about this award-winning technology. Hazardous chemicals are often required to make polymers used in lubricants, adhesives, coatings, and many other products. Professor Matyjaszewski developed an alternative process called "Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization” or ATRP to make these polymers. The process uses chemicals that are environmentally friendly, such as vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. It also requires less catalyst. ATRP has been licensed to manufacturers throughout the world, reducing risks from hazardous chemicals.
To learn more about this innovation and green chemistry in general, please go to epa dot gov slash green chemistry.
Read more about this innovation.