Hazard Reduction

Recovery of organic and inorganic chemicals from wastewater. Residual water is recycled through Anti-Solvent Crystallization (ASC), Chemical Dewatering (ChD), Reactive Extraction (Rx), or Eutectic Freeze Crystallization (EFC). This extraction process eliminates secondary and tertiary pollution and the need for a landfill. Recycling water also reduces the amount of freshwater needed for the process. These processes are more efficient than traditional evaporators and address corrosion. 

Gas-liquid contactor-reactor. This reactor can be used for gas absorption, effluent treatment, and chemical reactions in processes involving catalysts (oxidation hydrogenation, carbonylation, and hydroformylation). Conventional gas-liquid contacting devices have lower efficiency due to low gas hold-ups, back-mixing, and less safety. This new design is simple, compact, and flexible, requiring less power and a smaller operating volume. It is also scalable without losing efficiency. Reaction rates are controllable, and the lack of moving parts ensures safer working conditions. 

Filtering mercury and dioxin emissions. This technology reduces mercury and dioxin emissions from coal-fired power plants. It reduces effluent mercury levels by over 95% while maintaining the ash fly air retention properties. This technology is non-hazardous and landfill-safe. It is also scalable, as it can be implemented as a stand-alone solution or a part of a multi-pollutant treatment approach. 
 

Sustainable, closed-loop metal recycling process. The AquaRefining™ process is a clean, water-based recycling process for ultra-high purity lead. The process opeartes at room-temperature in a closed-loop and is nonpolluting. The closed-loop system enables the recycling of chemicals and water. This process yields products with higher quality and lower costs and reduces greenhouse gas emisisons by eliminating the smelting process. Recycling metals will lower the reliance on unsafe and toxic mining operations.

Enzyme that modifies wood composition and increases its capacity for becoming strong and quality paper. Paper strength is traditionally improved by using more expensive pulps, more energy, and different chemical additives. Maximyze® uses natural enzymes from fermentation. These enzymes modify cellulose to create more sites for hydrogen bonding, which translates into more fibrils that bind the wood fibers together. This technology reduces the need for high-cost materials and other methods. 

Activator chemicals that work with hydrogen peroxide to replace chlorine bleaches. TAML™ (tetraamido-macrocyclic ligand activators) activators can be used to prepare wood pulp for papermaking and remove stains from laundry. This technology eliminates chlorinated byproducts from wastewater streams and saves energy and water. This process minimizes pollution by employing reagents and processes that mimic those found in nature. More specifically, Terry Collins developed activators with the natural oxidant hydrogen peroxide.

Gasification systems that convert non-recyclable organic waste (bark, sawdust, clean construction/demolition debris, biosolids from sewage sludge) into a product called "syngas" that can be used to fuel heat and power. This novel process has low air emissions and particulate carryover, reducing emissions controls and permits costs. The design is also very simple and has few moving parts. The gasification system can process many challenging renewable waste feedstocks with moisture contents ranging from 6-60% and sizes up to 75 mm.

Algenol develops blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) to produce ethanol and other fuels in an EPA-certified process. Blue-green algae transforms 80% of absorbed carbon into methanol, reducing the carbon footprint of ethanol and other fuel production. This process reduces costs, water usage, and reliance on crops as feedstock. The growing conditions of blue green-algae are also clean and controlled. Enhanced algae produces high quantities of biomass efficiently, making this process 15-20% time more efficient than producing corn-based ethanol. The overall process also produces minimal waste.