WASHINGTON—Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, the J.C. Warner Professor of the Natural Sciences and University Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, will receive the 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at a ceremony at 5:30 p.m., Monday, June 22 at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Matyjaszewski, the second Carnegie Mellon professor to receive the award, will be recognized in the academic category for the development of an environmentally low-impact form of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), a widely used method for preparation of functional polymers.
The EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge promotes research and development of less-hazardous alternatives to existing technologies in an effort to reduce or eliminate waste, particularly hazardous waste, in industrial production.
"Approximately 400 billion pounds of synthetic polymers are produced each year. Often, hazardous chemicals are used to produce these important industrial products," Matyjaszewski said. "We've been able to use environmentally friendly chemicals, such as vitamin C, to reduce the level of catalyst employed in ATRP by a factor of over 1,000. This both enhances the scope of the procedure and reduces the environmental impact of polymer fabrication."
Developed at Carnegie Mellon by Matyjaszewski in 1995, ATRP is among the most effective and most commonly used methods of controlled radical polymerization (CRP). It allows scientists to easily form polymers by piecing together their component parts in a controlled fashion. Assembling polymers in such a manner has allowed scientists to create a wide range of polymers with highly specific, tailored functionalities. This technology also allows for the production of "smart" materials that can respond to altered environments, such as changes in pressure, acidity, light exposure or other variables. Polymers created using ATRP have been used for coatings, adhesives, lubricants, cosmetics and electronics and are currently under investigation for use in the medical and environmental fields.
ATRP relies on a specialized copper catalyst to form a polymer chain. In the early stages of ATRP development, high levels of copper catalyst were required to maintain the process. This problem persisted even after more active catalysts were developed. As a result, the materials manufactured using ATRP contained high levels of copper. In 2006, Matyjaszewski and colleagues introduced a green approach to ATRP that incorporates environmentally benign reducing agents, like vitamin C and sugars, to regenerate the active form of the catalyst. The reducing agents chemically lessen the amount of copper catalyst needed for the reactions by as much as 1,000 times, significantly reducing the output of potentially hazardous materials employed in ATRP and used for purification.
"Kris is a dedicated chemist whose work has revolutionized the way we produce polymers," said Richard McCullough, vice president of research at Carnegie Mellon. "There is no doubt that his discovery of an environmentally friendly form of ATRP will lead to new green materials and technologies that will change the world for the better."
Both the scientific and industrial communities have largely accepted ATRP as an important way to produce polymers. As of 2008, Matyjaszewski's group published more than 500 papers on CRP, and these papers have been cited more than 30,000 times, making Matyjaszewski one of the most cited researchers in the field of chemistry.
In 2006, ATRP formed the basis for a Carnegie Mellon spin-off company called ATRP Solutions that uses the technology to develop next generation materials for evaluation by their customers in their targeted markets. Along with ATRP Solutions, seven corporations, including PPG Industries, Dionex, Ciba, Kaneka, Mitsubishi, WEP and Encapson, have licensed ATRP and have begun to produce high-performance, less-hazardous, safer materials for a wide variety of applications.
Matyjaszewski is the second chemist from Carnegie Mellon to win this award since its inception in 1996. Terry Collins, the Thomas Lord Professor of Chemistry, received the award in 1999 for the development of TAML oxidant activators, catalysts that safely remove toxic chemicals from water.
About Carnegie Mellon: Carnegie Mellon (www.cmu.edu) is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the fine arts. More than 11,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. A global university, Carnegie Mellon's main campus in the United States is in Pittsburgh, Pa. It has campuses in California's Silicon Valley and Qatar, and programs in Asia, Australia and Europe. The university is in the midst of a $1 billion comprehensive campaign, titled "Inspire Innovation: The Campaign for Carnegie Mellon University," which aims to build its endowment, support faculty, students and innovative research, and enhance the physical campus with equipment and facility improvements. For more about Carnegie Mellon, visit http://www.cmu.edu/about/