ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine System has received a patent on a chemical process that could be used to clean up toxic waste sites, treat industrial wastewater or bleach wood pulp without generating toxic wastes. The research was performed by a team led by Barry Goodell, wood scientist in the Department of Forest Management, and Jody Jellison, molecular plant pathologist in the Department of Biological Sciences. Two former graduate students, Jing Liu and Srinivasan Krishnamurthy, assisted with the work.
The process specifies a technique that results in the production of molecules known as free-radicals. These molecules are highly reactive and known for their ability to attack larger compounds. The technique can also be used in reverse to protect organic compounds from damage by free-radicals. The patent is titled "Degradation and protection of organic compounds mediated by low molecular weight chelators." It was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on April 4. The technique has been used to break down dyes in industrial wastewater, according to Goodell. "A lot of the dye used in paper and textile production ends up in the wastewater instead of the product. Dyes are meant to persist, and it’s no surprise that they go through treatment and end up in rivers. We have found that this technology can produce a dramatic color reduction without the use of more expensive enzymes," he says.
Research to develop the technique was conducted in Nutting and Hitchner halls on the UMaine campus, and funding was provided by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
October 18, 2000
Contact: Nick Houtman, Dept. of Public Affairs, 207-581-3777,
houtman@maine.edu
Barry Goodell, Dept. of Forest Management, 207-581-2888,
Barry_Goodell@umit.maine.edu
Journal
Journal of Biotechnology