Award Data

As the single largest consumer of materials and energy use worldwide, the construction sector remains a prime target for materials reuse reform. (Krausmann et al., 2009; De Ia Rue du Can & Price, 2008). Construction and ongoing operation of the built environment extracts a significant amount of resources -- and on an ongoing basis. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), buildings ac ...

In order to promote human and environmental health, infrastructure must become safer, longer lasting, and more sustainable. Telecommunication structures with resiliency to extreme conditions are particularly beneficial because they allow communications to continue even in emergency situations. IsoTruss Inc. will develop a composite-reinforced concrete foundation that will increase resiliency witho ...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have emerged as a pervasive and persistent threat to drinking water throughout the world. Called ‘forever chemicals” because their high stability leads PFAS to build up in the environment. PFAS accumulates in the blood from exposures and is associated with various cancers and other illnesses. There is an urgent need for a technology that can both remo ...

Espira Inc. has developed ElectroPur, a modular point-of-use (POU) drinking water disinfection and pathogen sensing system. The ElectroPur system includes an electrocatalytic titanium-based disinfection reactor that inactivates biological pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa) through the creation of powerful oxidative radicals and a highly sensitive biological sensor that can detect a range ...

EPA launched its drinking water guidelines for PFOA and PFOS in response to rising concerns of these chemicals toward water security. Many conventional wastewater treatment processes are ineffective at removing perfluorochemicals due to their strong resistance to hydrolysis, photolysis, and chemical or microbial degradation. This SBIR project will demonstrate an innovative microwave-assisted membr ...

The EPA has established health advisory levels at 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for combined PFAS concentration. Water resources are susceptible to contamination by PFAS release from industry and landfill sites. Consequently, there is a need for on-site pretreatment technologies for PFASs in industrial wastewater. Electrochemical treatment has been shown to be effective for the mineralization of PFA ...

Aging infrastructure is a major challenge faced by the water utilities in the USA and across the globe, and with an overall rating of D by the ASCE, water distribution systems are no exception. Approximately 240,000 water main breaks occur in US systems every year with a cost of at least $3.6 billion. As such, innovative, economical, and sustainable solutions are needed in renewing the water trans ...

Need: People are exposed to formaldehyde, a carcinogen found in building materials. Highly sensitive, real-time formaldehyde sensors would improve human safety by alerting users to harmful concentrations. _x000D_ _x000D_ Technical Feasibility: Vaporsens produces chemical sensors based on novel organic nanofiber technology. Phase 1 results demonstrated high selectivity, rapid-response time, and dem ...

Need: Formaldehyde comes from a number of indoor sources and is carcinogenic. Vaporsens is offering a sensor capable of detecting formaldehyde at low concentrations (50 ppb) at an affordable price point (~$100)._x000D_ _x000D_ Technical Feasibility: Vaporsens organic nanofiber have been developed for a number of applications, including detecting explosives, narcotics, toxic industrial chemicals ...

A team at EP Purification has performed research for the development and commercialization of low-cost microchannel plasma reactor modules capable of efficiently producing ozone for water treatment and other environmental applications in a slim form factor and size. The conservation of water resources for human consumption is a growing national priority. Ozone is a unique purification agent as it ...