Waste Prevention

Catalysts for the production of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is generally clean and environmentally friendly, but its conventional production is not. The conventional production of hydrogen peroxide uses several toxic reagents. This novel method uses a metal catalyst, NxCat, to produce hydrogen peroxide directly from oxygen and hydrogen gases and only produces water as a byproduct. The process is also cost-effective and less energy-intensive. The catalyst is also manufactured from safe and renewable feedstocks.

Production of propylene oxide via hydrogen peroxide. Propylene oxide (PO) is a chemical building block for detergents, polyurethanes, de-icers, food additives, and personal care items. The traditional production of PO creates byproducts and significant waste. This novel route produces PO with hydrogen peroxide by using a catalyst, eliminating most of the waste and significantly reducing water and energy use. The production of wastewater is reduced by 70-80%, and energy use is reduced by 35%. This process has high yields and only produces water as a byproduct.

Alumina processing aid designed to prevent the formation of sodalite. Sodalite scale commonly accumulates in the Bayer Process. Traditionally, sodalite scale was addressed after its formation, resulting in a costly and inefficient treatment process. MAX HT® reduces energy and freshwater consumption in alumina processing by addressing sodalite scale before it becomes problematic.

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.

Process for renewable bio-1,4-butanediol (BDO). Geno BDO™ is a process that derives BDO from plant sugars instead of fossil fuel feedstocks. BDO can be used in a variety of everyday materials and consumer products, such as spandex, shoes, cars, and electronics. This novel process is cost-effecting and estimated to result in 90% carbon reduction. Producing all BDO with the Geno BDO™ process would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14 million tons.

Carbon recycling technology. This technology uses bacteria to convert waste gas (pollution) to fuels and chemicals. Carbon gas streams are common byproducts of established processes. LanzaTech utilizes these gas streams to produce fuels such as ethanol and chemicals such as 2,3-butanediol at high selectivities and yields. LanzaTech's microbes can also consume H2-free CO-only gas streams due to a biological water-gas shift reaction with CO2 and CO catalyzed by carbon monoxide dehydrogenase.

Carbon-negative alcohols and fuels. AIRMADE™ is patented process that imitates photosynthesis. It uses renewable energy to convert excessive carbon dioxide into carbon-negative alcohols and fuels with only oxygen as a by product. Carbon dioxide is captured from industrial plants before they are emitted into the atmospher and is cooled, pressurized, and liquified. Hydrogen is produced with renewable energy through on-site electrolysis; an electrolyzer splits water into hydrogen, yielding oxygen gas a byproduct that is simply released into the air.

Fractionates a variety of lignocellulosic feedstocks to produce high-quality second-generation biofuels and biochemicals. REFNOVA is a process that generates the highest possible yield of biofuels and biochemicals from plant biomass. It uses plant residues that are left after the extraction of food or other primary products. Virtually all forms of plant biomass can be valorized with little or no waste through this process. The company increases income in local areas and minimizes environmental impact by applying REFNOVA at the source using discarded plant materials.

The Catalytic BioForming® Process converts aqueous carbohydrate solutions into mixtures of "drop-in" hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbon molecules are derived from renewable feedstocks but are equivalent to those found in petroleum products. These hydrocarbons are scalable because they maintain market acceptance; these molecules can be blended with existing infrastructure to produce premium-quality gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel. Fuels produced from these sustainable hydrocarbons are more energy efficient and have lower life-cycle carbon emissions than crude oil fuels.