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Novel Bifunctional Catalyst and Methods for Synthesis of Optically Pure ß-Lactones

Project ID: D2010-06 Invention novelty: The disclosed invention embodies a novel cobalt based bifunctional catalyst and the process to synthesize enantiomerically pure ( > 99 % ee) β-lactones. Value proposition: Enantiomerically pure β-lactones have found attraction as intermediates in the synthesis of a large number of chiral drugs....

Removal and Recovery of Rare Earth Elements

Project ID: D2022-17 Background Rare earth elements (REEs), such as neodymium, europium, dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium, are sometimes referred to as the “vitamins of modern industry” due to their frequent use in high-tech applications. They are used in fiber optics to carry internet traffic, making gasoline from petroleum, and in items...

Emulsion Formation using corona discharge and electrohydrodynamic pumping

Project ID: D2020-22 Background Making water-in-oil emulsions often requires high pressure, ultrasonication, or sensitive inversion techniques that may still only result in a semi-stable colloid. In addition to emulsion shelf life, these techniques have drawbacks, such as having high-energy consumption and narrow/sensitive production parameters, needing...

Selective recovery of polypropylene (and polyethylene) from mixed plastic wastes

Project ID: D2021-43 Background Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer used in packaging materials, consumer goods, automotive components, and medical devices. It is difficult to recover PP from mixed plastic waste streams; PP has a similar density to polyethylene (PE) and cannot be selectively separated from PE via the sink-float methods...

Constrained geometry catalysts for the production of polymers

Project ID: D2009-89 Background Polymerization reactions are used in industry to make widely used products, such as polyolefins. There has been an interest in improving control over polymer tacticity and co-polymerization, leading to the development of Constrained Geometry Catalysts (CGCs). The CGCs form complexes with a pi-bonded moiety bridged...

Connectors for joining aluminum plates

Project ID: D2018-49 Background Several approaches have been taken to join aluminum plates or sheets. However, each has disadvantages. For example, resistance spot welding of common alloys can cause expulsion, distortion, short electrode life, and the formation of voids and cracks. Friction stir welding is limited in that it requires equipment...

High yield production of fuels and petro- or oleo-chemical precursors from vegetables oils/liquid feedstocks in a continuous-flow pyrolysis reactor

Project ID: D2016-39Background Pyrolysis of oil seeds and microalgae has the potential to displace petroleum-derived fuels. Current methods require batch processing which produces low yield of liquid products, contamination from secondary reactions, and causes buildup inside the reactor. Therefore, there is a need to improve the efficiency of pyrolysis...

Homogenous and Reusable Superacid Polymer Catalyst for the Synthesis of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural from Glucose

Project ID: D2018-18 Background Combinations of Brønsted and Lewis acid catalysts are generally used for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from glucose. However, reutilization of these catalysts is challenging due to their solubility in reaction medium. Heterogeneous catalysts containing both types of acid sites are not usually...

Ultrastable Silver Nanoparticles

Project ID: D2014-05Background Silver nanoparticles have shown huge technological promise in wide variety of applications due to their superior optical properties, bioactivity, and diversity of chemical and photochemical properties. However, the main challenge with silver nanoparticle is its chemical instability to oxidation, i.e. tarnishing, which...

Cost- and Energy-Efficient Device for De-watering Microalgae Using Stimuli-Sensitive Hydrogels

Project ID: D2016-01IP Status: US Patent 10,077,422Invention Description: Currently, a major hurdle for commercial-scale production of fuels and other products from microalgae is recovering algal biomass from growth media with minimal cost and energy input. When cultivated in open raceway ponds, microalgae concentrations are very low – typically...