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Zeomatrix, LLC

Address

20 Godfrey Drive
Orono, ME, -
USA

UEI: N/A

Number of Employees: 3

HUBZone Owned: No

Woman Owned: Yes

Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No

SBIR/STTR Involvement

Year of first award: 2008

Phase I Awards

Phase II Awards

50%

Conversion Rate

$221,542

Phase I Dollars

$503,645

Phase II Dollars

$725,187

Total Awarded

Awards

Up to 10 of the most recent awards are being displayed. To view all of this company's awards, visit the Award Data search page.

SBIR Phase II: Highly Ordered Membranes for Molecular Separation

Amount: $503,645 Topic: BC

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes to develop a ceramic nanofiltration membrane with highly uniform pores oriented perpendicularly to the membrane surface using DNA as a template in a silica sol-gel. This membrane will be optimized to perform molecular separation and purification of fuels and chemicals from cellulosic biomass. The research objectives are to create a membrane with the desired pore size and orientation features. A prototype membrane will be produced and tested for its ability to dewater biofuels by pervaporation. It is anticipated that the selective ceramic membrane layer will provide efficient separations and have high temperature and chemical tolerance. The membrane will have applications for a range of industrial markets including wastewater purification and desalination. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is the development of an innovative membrane technology that will contribute significant energy savings to the production of alternative fuels from cellulosic biomass. Potential end users will include biorefineries that convert cellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. A great advantage of molecular separations by membranes rather than distillation is the 40- 50% savings in energy. If successful, this project would lead to a new class of high-throughput ceramic nanofiltration membranes that will have applications to other industrial sectors, including wastewater purification, natural gas purification, and coal gasification. This project promises to contribute significant energy savings to the production of alternative fuels from renewable resources.

SBIR

Phase II

2010

NSF

SBIR Phase I: Highly Ordered Membranes for Molecular Separation

Amount: $119,161 Topic: BC

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project investigates the viability of a new method for manufacturing ceramic membranes with highly uniform pores oriented perpendicularly to the membrane surface. These membranes will be designed and optimized to perform molecular separation and purification of chemicals from wood extracts. The ideal membrane for molecular separation must be very thin, have uniform pores which are oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the membrane, have very few defects, and be thermally and chemically stable. There are no commercially available membranes that provide all of these features. The research objectives of this project are to create the first DNA templated ceramic thin film and provide evidence of its structural characteristics. High throughput experimentation will be used to determine the optimum conditions to form the monolayer of uniformly oriented DNA in the presence of sol-gel. The conditions for the polymerization of the sol-gel to form the silica encapsulated DNA on a surface will also be determined. It is anticipated that analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy will confirm the existence of a highly oriented monolayer of silica encapsulated DNA on a surface. These new membranes have significant advantages over existing organic polymer-based membranes. Zeomatrix is targeting the ceramic nanofiltration membrane market. It is estimated that the inorganic membrane market is approximately $375 million per year. The nanofiltration market segment, while smaller than the microfiltration segment, is growing at a rate of roughly 8% per year. The rapid growth of oil costs is expected to dramatically increase the potential market for viable alternatives such as biomass. Potential customers for the first inorganic membrane Zeomatrix will produce are biorefineries which convert woody biomass to sugars, organic acids, and alcohols. Current membrane technologies can separate the sugars from acetic acid and furfurals. However, a new membrane technology is needed which will separate furfural compounds from acetic acid. A great advantage of molecular separation by membranes rather than distillation is lower cost primarily in energy savings. This Phase I project could lead to a new class of membranes that will have applications to other industrial sectors. Specific industries include oil and petrochemical, coal gasification, pulp and paper, and natural gas producers. In each of these industries, membranes which are resistant to corrosion, tolerate high temperatures, and are capable of separations in the 10 to 20 angstrom range are needed.

SBIR

Phase I

2009

NSF

Novel Zeolite Photocatalyst for Reductive Dechlorination of Chlorinated VOCs

Amount: $102,381

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Zeomatrix, a small business, is proposing to research and develop a remediation technology for chlorinated volatile organic carbons (CVOCs). CVOCs are ubiquitous groundwater pollutants. Left on their own they persist in nature for over 100 years. Most are toxic to humans, and some (including trichloroethylene) have been linked to cancer. A recently completed 17 year study by the United States Geological Survey found that chlorinated VOCs are present in nearly every aquif er in the United States. It is estimated that full scale remediation of these compounds in groundwater will cost in excess of 200 billion. The product being developed is a visible light photocatalyst which will promote the rapid reduction of CVOC compound s to less toxic materials. Current commercial photocatalysts are employed as oxidative catalysts, and thus they are less efficient at remediation in the presence of dissolved organic matter, a common component of groundwater. Zeomatrix utilizes high throug hput screening methods to rapidly and cost effectively develop new photocatalysts. The Phase I research will be performed using custom-designed parallel photocatalyst screening instrumentation in order to evaluate a large number of candidate materials and identify the optimal reductive photocatalyst. The research will be focused on the following specific aims: one, to synthesize an array of catalyst support geometries based on design of experiments (DoE) protocol and using an automated deposition system cus tom-engineered by Zeomatrix to deposit various metal/metal oxide combinations and then screen for reductive photocatalytic activity under visible light; and, two, to screen the reductive photocatalysts selected from the initial screening experiments for ac tivity versus chosen test compounds (trichloroethylene, trichloroethane), under a range of experimental conditions (pH, ionic strength, dissolve organic content). Selection of the optimal photocatalyst will be based on rapid degradation kinetics (turn over frequency), and efficacy under adverse conditions (high ionic strength, pH extremes, and high dissolved organic content). The results of the Phase I research will be used to determine the feasibility of applying the selected photocatalyst for the remediat ion of CVOCs. Phase II studies would be performed to further optimize the photocatalyst, and to perform a large scale pilot study on actual polluted groundwater. The combination of rapid kinetics with the use of low cost visible light would make this an at tractive remediation option to address the extensive problem of CVOC contamination. The goal of this research is the development of a novel remediation technology for the break down of chlorinated volatile organic carbons in water. Chlorinated vola tile organic carbons are found in nearly every aquifer in the US. Left on their own they persist in nature for over 100 years. Most are toxic to humans, and they accumulate in fatty tissue making them a danger to human health even at low levels. Some have been linked to cancer and over twenty are currently regulated in public water supplies by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

SBIR

Phase I

2008

HHS

NIH