The Green Chemistry Challenge Awards: Impacts and Success Stories
Type of Announcement
EPA Award
Bioforge™
AI-engineeered enzymes for the production of chemicals without fermentation. This company uses AI to engineer enzymes and metal catalysts that do not require fermentation, allowing for the production of molecules at room temperature without toxins and waste. This process uses safe feedstocks, such as sugars, air, and carbon dioxide. It is also scalable and cost efficient. This process also eliminates fermentation, costly immobilization, air emissions, and wastewater emissions. Their factory, Bioforge™, produces one ton of product per ton of feedstock.
Rhamnolipids JBR Series Biosurfactant
Natural rhamnolipids, or co-surfactant systems, for bioremediation applications and crude oil recovery. These rhamnolipid biosurfactants can facilitate the removal of hydrocarbons and heavy metals, making them effective in remediating soil and sludge. These rhamnolipids also contain a synergistic activity with many synthetic surfactants, resulting in a reduction in synthetic surfactant components. They are also biodegradable, with decompositions that are non-persistent and safe for the environment.
RE-HEALING™ RF Foam
Halogen-free firefighting surfactant. RE-HEALING™ RF3 is a fluorosurfactant and fluoropolymer-free foam concentrate that effectively extinguishes Class B hydrocarbon fuel fires. It can be used in fresh, salt, or brackish water. These surfactants have a high rate of degradation and perform equal or superior to those in conventional firefighting foams. It is also easy to integrate into existing systems. Conventional firefighting foams use fluorinated surfactants, which are persistent, toxic, and bioaccumulative.
Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP)
Atom Transfer Radical Polymerizatoin (ATRP) for manufacturing polymers. ATRP is the most effecting method of controlled radical polymerization (CRP). The ATRP process allows for the easy formation of polymers by assembling monomors in a piece-by-piece fashion. This allows for the production of a wide range of polymers with specific functions and properties. The ATRP process uses enviromentally friends chemicals, such ascorbic acid, and requires less transition metal catalysts.
4-Aminodiphenylamine (4-ADPA)
Synthetic methodology for the development of 4-ADPA. 4-Aminodiphenylamine (4-ADPA) is a key building block for rubber preservatives. Many aromatic amines are made with halogenated reagents, especially those containing chlorine. The Eastman Chemical Company's previous production of 4-ADPA is based on the chlorination of benzene. This process produced aqueous waste with high levels of inorganic salts that are difficult and expensive to treat. This process also required the storage and handling of large quantities of chlorine gas, which is hazardous to human health.