Award Data

Environmental Fuel Research, LLC, proposes to commercialize a grease trap waste to biofuel process based on process research from Drexel University. Grease trap waste is dirty and low-value material produced by the food service industry that is high in lipids that can be converted to biodiesel. The quantity of grease trap waste in the United States could produce one-half billion gallons of biodies ...

This project focuses on dissolution and destruction of adhered or trapped target compounds, such as pesticides on wetted porous surfaces (e.g., pipe walls). Our innovative treatment approach is based on simultaneous: (1) desorption from the pipe wall, and (2) oxidation via radical formation. OxyZone-C®, a proprietary reactive agent developed by our team, combines highly effective cyclodextrin­fa ...

Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) proposes to develop a regenerable, low-cost, high-efficiency pollution control technology for removal of gaseous pollutants from contaminated air streams. This innovative air filter technology will combine our novel proprietary Microlith® support elements with sorbent nanomaterials that can be tailored to capture a variety of targeted gaseous pollutants. Originall ...

Presently, there are no U.S. manufacturers for producing dimethyl carbonate (DMC), an environmentally benign and nonflammable solvent used in numerous applications. This strategically important solvent is used in numerous products, ranging from batteries to plastics, with most production occurring in China. DMC is a favored solvent for lithium ion batters due to its low volatility and nonflammable ...

A variety of inorganic and organic contaminants originating from municipal, agricultural and industrial wastewater sources are being found with increasing frequency in the Nation’s natural and drinking water supplies. These “emerging contaminants” include pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, steroids, hormones, flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, personal care products, and herbicides and p ...

The goal of this proposed program through Phase III is to build a space-worthy Drug Stability Analyzer that can determine the extent of drug degradation. It will be able to monitor the drug active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and its degradation product concentrations as a function of time, as well as determine if a drug is suitable for use. This will be accomplished by designing and building ...

The design concepts being considered for Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET) rely on the use of 3D woven carbon fiber preforms. Therefore, there is a need to be able to predict the properties and performance of a woven material. Validation of predictive modeling tools would allow for the use of these tools to design and optimize the 3D weaves, significantly reducing the c ...

This program addresses the need for non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods for quality assessment and defect evaluation of thermal protection systems (TPS). Novel linear drive eddy current methods are proposed for NDE of carbon-based TPS materials, such as felts, rigid materials, and three dimensional woven fiber composites. Using a combination of physics-based models of layered media, includin ...

The Zero Gravity Mass Measurement Device (ZGMMD) provides the ability to measure the mass of samples in a microgravity environment, like that found on the International Space Station (ISS). One of the primary measurements often taken during science experiments is mass. This is even more relevant in biology, where mass is often one of the key measurements taken for analysis. During the Phase I effo ...

Heat shield technology is a critical component for both re-entry and hypersonic vehicles. The traditional manufacturing approach for designing heat shields consists of joining TPS tiles together with an adhesive that fills any gaps between them. This approach has significant challenges, including the reduction in thermal-mechanical performance as compared to that of acreage woven material. Nhung's ...