2015 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Winners announced

In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the 2015 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge awards have been made to Algenol, Hybrid Coating Technologies/Nanotech Industries, LanzaTech, SOLTEX, Renmatix and Professor Eugene Chen of Colorado State University, for  innovative solutions that “reduce the use of energy, hazardous chemicals and water, while cutting manufacturing costs and sparking investments, and “in some cases they turn pollution into useful products.”

The award, sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Chemical Society recognizes outstanding accomplishments in research, development and implementation of green chemical technologies.

The winners

Algenol in Fort Myers, Florida, is being recognized for developing a blue-green algae to produce ethanol and other fuels. The algae uses CO2 from air or industrial emitters with sunlight and saltwater to create fuel while dramatically reducing the carbon footprint, costs and water usage, with no reliance on food crops as feedstocks. This is a win-win for the company, the public, and the environment. It has the potential to revolutionize this industry and reduce the carbon footprint of fuel production.

Hybrid Coating Technologies/Nanotech Industries of Daly City, California, is being recognized for developing a safer, plant-based polyurethane for use on floors, furniture and in foam insulation. The technology eliminates the use of isocyanates, a major cause of workplace asthma. This is already in production, is reducing VOC’s and costs, and is safer for people and the environment.

LanzaTech in Skokie, Illinois, is being recognized for the development of a process that uses waste gas to produce fuels and chemicals, reducing companies’ carbon footprint. LanzaTech has partnered with Global Fortune 500 Companies and others to use this technology, including facilities that can each produce 100,000 gallons per year of ethanol, and a number of chemical ingredients for the manufacture of plastics. This technology is already a proven winner and has enormous potential for American industry.

SOLTEX (Synthetic Oils and Lubricants of Texas) in Houston, Texas, is being recognized for developing a new chemical reaction process that eliminates the use of water and reduces hazardous chemicals in the production of additives for lubricants and gasoline. If widely used, this technology has the potential to eliminate millions of gallons of wastewater per year and reduce the use of a hazardous chemical by 50 percent.

Renmatix in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, is being recognized for developing a process using supercritical water to more cost effectively break down plant material into sugars used as building blocks for renewable chemicals and fuels. This innovative low-cost process could result in a sizeable increase in the production of plant-based chemicals and fuels, and reduce the dependence on petroleum fuels.

Professor Eugene Chen of Colorado State University is being recognized for developing a process that uses plant-based materials in the production of renewable chemicals and liquid fuels. This new technology is waste-free and metal-free. It offers significant potential for the production of renewable chemicals, fuels, and bioplastics that can be used in a wide range of safer industrial and consumer products.

“It is a great honor to receive the Presidential Chemistry Award for Climate Change,” said Algenol’s CEO Paul Woods. “We feel Algenol is in the best position to mitigate climate change. It’s wonderful to be recognized by the White House for our game-changing technology that turns carbon pollution into a profitable and sustainable business by utilizing flue gas CO2 to produce the world’s four most important transportation fuels.”