Contact: Dawn White, (509) 375-3688
Pacific Northwest developments named in top 100 list
RICHLAND, Wash. -- Technologies developed at the Department of
Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have claimed three
of the top 100 slots in R&D Magazine's list of the most significant
innovations of 1996. The magazine conducts the annual R&D 100 Award
competition to honor the most promising new products, processes,
materials or software developed throughout the world. Awards are
based on a product's technical significance, uniqueness and
usefulness. Pacific Northwest researchers have received 38 awards
since 1965.
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.
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