Award Data

One of the program areas of interest to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the development of rapid, non-invasive monitors to detect exposure to toxic air pollutants at trace (ppt) levels. Of the 356 chemicals listed on the Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office¿s List of Extremely Hazardous Substances (Section 302 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Kn ...

Gas chromatography (GC) systems deliver incomparable performance for the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). High-speed GC techniques can deliver these advantages with near real-time results. Significant cost reduction can be gained by providing real-time decisions in the field. Chromatofast, Inc., has developed a proprietary, high-speed laboratory GC inlet system that possesses feature ...

Sludge waste from many plating operations is classified as a hazardous waste. Its disposal is a major environmental concern. In this proposal, the nickel values in sludge that result from electroless nickel plating and from chromium plating will be extracted and recovered as pure nickel metal. The sludge first will be converted into a purified nickel carbonate using an innovative combination of py ...

Lead in household paint and dust is a serious health hazard as low level lead exposure can result in a number o adverse health effects, especially in children. On-site and real-time detection and quantification of lead in the paint/dust is very important to homeowners and certified lead-based paint removal professionals. Toward this end, both field-portable equipment (such as x-ray fluorescence ...

Finishes Unlimited, Inc., produces baking enamels for general purpose original equipment manufacturers who make sundry metal products such as lockers, tool boxes, compressors, folding chairs, storage racks, etc. Although it is a small company, Finishes Unlimited, Inc., has been among the leaders in one type of environmentally friendly coatings (i.e., waterborne bake enamels). In 1993, it became ...

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites offer inherent advantages over traditional materials with regard to high strength-to-weight ratio, design flexibility, corrosion resistance, low maintenance, and extended service life. FRP usage will increase dramatically in the next few years because of high demands in the civil infrastructure, offshore oil platforms, and automotive industries. Two issues ...

Perchlorate is a widely-used component of solid fuel, missile and rocket propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics. It has been shown to reduce iodide uptake into the thyroid gland. The EPA has found Perchlorate contamination in 18 states and believes contamination may exist in as many as 39 states. In early January 2005, the National Academy of sciences, in an EPA-sponsored study, recommended a ...

Lactic acid (CAS No. 50-21-5, 2-hydroxypropanoic acid) is the most widely occurring hydroxycarboxylic acid and is distributed in normal food. Presently, lactic acid is used primarily in food and food-related applications. A small amount is used in medicine and cosmetics. More recently, due to the demand for ¿greener¿ chemicals for use in chemistry and engineering technologies, the scope for l ...

There is a need for low-cost, environmentally friendly processes for perchlorate remediation of drinking water supplies. Widespread perchlorate contamination of groundwaters only recently has been discovered. Health risks due to perchlorate ingestion include the disruption of thyroid gland function, which can lead to tumor formation and child development problems. This research project will res ...

The goal of this research project is to develop and commercialize a new generation of concrete-based wastewater infrastructure systems with substantially enhanced longevity, structural and hydrological performance, and initial and life-cycle economy. This new infrastructure would greatly reduce the cost and environmental implications of wastewater management. Concrete pipes, manholes, pump stati ...