Synthesis of simvastatin with a biocatalyst. Simvastatin is a drug used to treat high blood pressure and cholesterol. The conventional synthesis of this drug is not atom-economic (<70% original mass) and utilizes toxic feedstocks. This new process from Professor Tang and his research group at UCLA uses a biocatalyst for regioselective acylation with safer and cheaper reagents in a high-yield, single-step process.
Solid catalyst alkylation process for the production of alkylate. Alkylate is a clean fuel component of gasoline. Traditional production methods use toxic liquid acid technologies that require post-treatment. Using the Alkystar catalyst, AlkyClean is a more efficeint alkylate production process that increases reaction speed and reduces environmental hazards by eliminating the need for liquid acids.
Natural ester dielectric fluid. PCBs were traditionally used as fluid insulators in transformers and were eventually banned due to their high toxicity. PCBs were then replaced with petroleum-based mineral oil. Unfortunately, mineral oil is highly flammable and has a low affinity for water. Additionally, other insulator materials within transformers are made of cellulose. Thus, water inside the transformers was mostly absorbed by the cellulose-based insulator materials, catalyzing their degradation and reducing the lifetime of the transformers.
Family of partially bio-based resins for coatings and inks. These resins are partially made from plant-based materials that are more sustainably sourced. Products have as much as 52% plant-based content. These coatings perform equivalent to, or better than, traditional fossil-fuel alternatives. The ingredients in these resins also contain very low VOCs.
Heavy metal-free anti-corrosion coating. This technology is a 2-3 layer system consisting of a unique conducting polymer nanodispersion (CPND) primer, a top layer, and an optional interlayer. The polymer covers the surface of the metal and transforms the top layer into a thin, dense metal oxide layer. This process protects the metal from corrosion without heavy metals such as chromate, lead, or zinc. This technology also outperforms existing anti-corrosion treatments in durability, lasting over 6 times as long. The coating is also thin, lightweight, self-sealing, and has good adhesion.
Corrosion-resistant coatings. This technology provides high corrosion resistance and improved adhesion for hot-dip galvanized steel, aluminum alloys, and other metals in a one-step process without toxic chemicals like VOCs and Haps. Traditional anti-corrosion agents contain hexavalent chromium, which is toxic to humans and the environment, and contain high molecular weight polymers that require VOCs for anti-corrosion properties. VOCs are responsible for forming ground-level ozone and particulate matter and negatively impacting human health.
Aqueous, all-acrylic emulsion polymer for ultra-low VOC interior paints. This product improves interior air quality by removing formaldehyde from recently painted commercial and residential spaces. Formaldehyde removal reduces the potential for respiratory disease development. This technology is also 100% acrylic and APEO-free. It can be used without a solvent and has low odor and high adhesion.
Aqueous acid-modified polyolefin dispersion designed for coating metal packages. CANVERA is based on polyolefin dispersions (PODs) composed of polyolefin resin. This technology is used for internal food and beverage metal can coating. It does not use toxic materials that are traditionally found in epoxy systems. This product also provides excellent adhesion and corrosion protection without affecting flavor. This coating can be applied to a large range of food types at a large range of temperatures.
Marine antifoulant to control plant and animal growth on ship hulls. Traditional antifoulants are acutely and chronically toxic, bioaccumulate, decrease reproductive viability, and increase the shell thickness of shellfish. The Sea-Nine antifoulant (4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4isothiazolin-3-one) degrades rapidly (one day in seawater and one hour in sediment) and has essentially zero bioaccumulation.
Process to print labels directly on glass. Print labels directly on glass eliminates the need for paper labels, decals, or applied ceramic labeling (ACL). ACL prints the glass with ink containing heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium. This alternative method uses inks that contain no heavy metals and little to no VOCs. They are biodegradable, replace ovens with ultraviolet light, save raw materials, and produce recyclable decorated glass.