Efficiency

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Plantrose® Process is a water-based technology platform that converts plants into powerful ingredients. It converts water to a supercritical state to break down plants into foundational ingredients that can be used for various applications. The plants that are used in this process are sustainably grown and harvested. The ingredients from these broken down plants can be used in everyday consumer products and industrial applications. Using water instead of other chemicals also lowers costs.