This year's winning entries are:
Production of Chemicals from Biologically Derived Succinic Acid.
This
process converts corn
into a cost-effective, environmentally friendly source of chemicals used to
make polymers,
clothing fibers, paints, inks, food additives, automobile bumpers and other
industrial and
consumer products. Succinic acid, produced by fermenting the sugar found in
corn, is
converted to chemicals that are used to make an assortment of products. The
process was
developed by Pacific Northwest researchers John Frye, Yong Wang and Sarah
Burton,
former employee Todd Werpy and researchers at Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, Argonne
National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Refractory Corrosion Monitor.
This device monitors the thickness of
insulation in
high-temperature furnaces while the furnace is in operation.
High-temperature furnaces are
used in waste remediation, power production and to manufacture materials
such as glass and
steel. A key feature of these furnaces is the refractory insulation that
encloses the
high-temperature region inside the furnace. The ability to monitor the
refractory condition
during operation improves productivity and extends the life of furnace
components while
minimizing downtime required for inspections. Developers are David Lamar of
Pacific
Northwest along with Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers.
RubberCycleTM.
This technology is based on the use of sulphur-metabolizing
microorganisms
to create permanent chemical bonds between recycled and new, unvulcanized
tire rubber.
The end result is a cost-effective method of producing vulcanized rubber
products, such as
automobiles tires, that perform better than those manufactured solely with
new rubber. The
process also increases the recyclability of the approximately two billion
waste tires stockpiled
in the United States. Developers are Bob Romine, Margaret Romine, Lesley
Snowden-Swan,
Harley Freeman and Gary Neuenschwander.
Inventors of all three technologies will be honored by R&D Magazine in September at a ceremony in Chicago. This is the 34th year of competition.