Process Science & Engineering Division Awards
Our research teams have earned numerous honors, including R&D 100 from Research and Development Magazine (one of 100 most significant new technologies of the year); Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Excellence in Technology Transfer; and Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge.
This year, 2006, staff from PS&E were members of research teams that won three out of the five total R&D 100 Awards for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The PS&E staff members are listed as follows with their winning technologies:
- Cesium-131 Brachytherapy Seed: Larry Greenwood, Darrell Fisher, and Chuck Soderquist from the Radiochemical Sciences and Engineering Group
- E-RESS: George Deverman, Chemical and Biological Processing Development Group
- MilliWave Thermal Analyzer: SK Sundaram, Advanced Processing and Applications Group
Descriptions of these three 2006 R&D Award-winning technologies are provided in the list below.
R&D 100 Awards
2006, Cesium-131 Brachytherapy Seed
The Cesium-131 Brachytherapy Seed is one of the most significant advancements in brachytherapy for cancer treatment in nearly 20 years. Brachytherapy is internal radiation treatment that places radioactive material directly into a tumor. The cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds are used for the treatment of prostate and other cancers, and deliver a highly targeted therapeutic dose of radiation to the tumor quickly and with potentially fewer side effects than other treatment options. PNNL shares this award with IsoRay Medical, Inc. of Richland, Wash. The technology also won a 2005 Federal Laboratory Consortium award for technology transfer.
2006, e-RESS
e-RESS is a technology that improves the process for using nanoparticles in coating medical devices—such as cardiovascular stents—allowing for more consistent delivery of pharmaceutical agents and potentially reducing the need for replacement surgeries caused by the build-up of tissue. PNNL shares this award with Micell Technologies of Raleigh, N.C.
2006, The MilliWave Thermal Analyzer
The MilliWave Thermal Analyzer is a thermal analysis instrument that uses millimeter-wave electromagnetic radiation to measure the temperature, amount of energy emitted, and physical change of materials, processes, and systems. This technology can function under extreme environments (such as very high temperatures) because contact is not required between the instrumentation and the materials; therefore, sampling of the materials is not required and the measurements can be made in real-time. PNNL shares this award with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., and the Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, S.C.
2004, D3: Degradable by Design DeicerTM
The D3: Degradable by Design DeicerTM is composed of a family of non-toxic, biodegradable fluids used to remove and prevent the formation of ice on military and commercial aircrafts, military and commercial runways, and roadways or pavement. The D3 is made from biobased materials and has less environmental impact on receiving waters, is much less corrosive, and is less toxic than existing fluid and solid deicers.
2001, MilliWave Viscometer
The MilliWave Viscometer is a high-temperature viscosity measurement technology for process monitoring of hot molten materials such as in glass manufacture and metals refining. Viscosity is a measure of how well a liquid flows within stationary boundaries such as a pipe or pour spout, in response to a given force. It is a key parameter of molten materials that can indicate the chemistry and quality of a glass or metal product. The MilliWave Viscometer fills a need for a high-temperature, on-line viscosity sensor that makes possible real-time process control in the manufacture of glass, metals, and other melter-produced materials.
1999, Centrate Ammonia Recovery Process
Centrate Ammonia Recovery (CAR) is a reversible chemisorption process that controls the spread of ammonia (and subsequently nitrates) to waterways and drinking water. Incorporating a newly designed adsorption resin and regeneration solution, the CAR process extracts ammonia out of sewage treatment liquid (centrate) and livestock waste and converts it into standard, commercial-grade, ammonium sulfate fertilizer, a dry, odorless product.
1999, Compact Microchannel Fuel Vaporizer
The Compact Microchannel Fuel Vaporizer (CMFV) contains integrated microcombustors and micro-channel heat exchangers. The unit catalytically oxidizes waste hydrogen from a fuel cell, providing energy necessary to vaporize liquid hydrocarbon fuel used by a fuel processing system. The technology enables manufacture of compact fuel processor units for portable applications. Until now, existing fuel processing technology could not be scaled down to a small enough size for automotive applications-the fuel vaporization component was one of the roadblocks to downsizing. The CMFV removes this roadblock and brings the fuel cell-powered automobile a significant step closer to reality.
1999, MicroHeater
The MicroHeater is a microscale combustion system (the palm-size combustion unit weighs less than 0.2 kg [5 oz]) that can provide heat for portable personal heating/cooling devices, indoor heating devices such as baseboard heaters, in-line water heaters, and fuel cell systems. The MicroHeater can produce 30 W of thermal energy per square centimeter of external combustor area. One module can power a personal, portable heater for 8 hours on little fuel or provide instantaneous in-line water heating; an array of modules will heat a house efficiently and reduce ducting and zoning thermal energy losses by 45%.
1998, MICLEANTM/MICARETM Solvent Cleaning Systems
This industrial cleaning process uses special detergents created from polymer-based formulations to increase significantly the scrubbing power of liquid carbon dioxide. Used to clean garments or metal parts, the system provides industry and consumers a recyclable, environmentally safe, yet equally effective alternative to ozone-depleting or hazardous cleaning compounds. Through an agreement with Battelle, MiCELL Technologies is commercializing the system. The technology also won an FLC Award in 1998.
1997, RubberCycleTM
The RubberCycleTM technology is a technically sound, cost-effective method for solving the waste tire disposal problem and cleaning up a major environmental hazard while reducing costs to businesses and consumer. The RubberCycleTM technology is based on a bioprocess that uses thiophillic, or sulfur-loving, microorganisms that create chemically reactive sites on the surface of finely ground tire rubber particles derived from waste tires. This mixed recycled and virgin vulcanized rubber exhibits better performance than all-virgin rubber. The RubberCycleTM system can be integrated with existing recycling operations. It does not require hazardous chemicals and has no significant waste effluent. It uses standard bioprocessing equipment that is low cost and low maintenance. Rouse Rubber Industries, Inc., is a joint winner.
1997, Production of Chemicals from Biologically Derived Succinic Acid
The Production of Chemicals from Biologically Derived Succinic Acid (BDSA) process converts corn into a cost-efficient, environmentally friendly source of the chemicals used to make polymers, clothing fibers, paints, inks, food additives, automobile bumpers, and an array of other industrial and consumer products. The process produces succinic acid by fermenting glucose sugar from corn. After separation and purification, the succinic acid is used as a chemical intermediate that is converted into chemical feedstocks used to make a wide assortment of products. Currently, more than 90% of the basic feedstocks used to make these products originate from crude oil and natural gas, and the BDSA process will compete with these production routes by providing a lower-cost means of obtaining commodity chemicals from renewable resources.
1996, Catalyzed Electrochemical Oxidation
Catalyzed Electrochemical Oxidation (CEO) is a low-temperature, ambient-pressure process that can replace incineration as a hazardous waste treatment. It is 25%-50% cheaper than incineration and safer, because aqueous components are not vaporized. Using the oxidation power of cerium, CEO can destroy hazardous pesticides, chemical weapons, solvents, laboratory, mixed organic and biological wastes. With its flow-through ultrasonic mixer, it can dispose of immiscible liquids like petroleum wastes. The CEO process is easily scalable, and the equipment is highly portable, making it a good choice for universities and small private labs, shipboard wastes, as well as large manufacturing facilities. The technology also won an FLC Award in 1997.
1993, Ultrafine Powder Formation by Continuous Hydrothermal Synthesis (Rapid Thermal Decomposition of Precursors in Solutions Process)
The Rapid Thermal Decomposition of Precursors in Solutions (RTDS) process uses high pressure (3000 to 8000 psi) and high temperature (100 to 400°C) to transform a solution of low-cost metal salts into tiny, uniform particles for materials manufacturing and catalytic applications. The process can produce 1 to 5 pounds of powder per day at bench scale.
1992, Base-Catalyzed Destruction Process
The Base-Catalyzed Destruction Process (BCD) process was co-developed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory, and has the potential to treat millions of tons of contaminated while meeting strict environmental regulations. An inexpensive base is used in a chemical dehalogenation process that can detoxify polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, pesticides, and other hazardous organic materials in soils or other substrates without creating additional contaminants or arousing public antipathy. When PCB-contaminated soils are treated by this process, chlorine and other halogen molecules are replaced by hydrogen, producing small amounts of sodium chloride and nonhazardous biphenyl. Ultimately, PCBs are detoxified at significantly less cost and with much greater public acceptance than incineration.
1991, Conversion of Fermentable Carbohydrates to Acrylate Esters-Lactic Acid and Lower Alkyl Acrylates Production
This cost-efficient technology combines fermentation and catalytic processes to produce lactic acid from blackstrap molasses, cheese whey, and grain and potato processing residues. The lactic acid then can be used to produce acrylates such as sealants, coatings, textiles, and biodegradable plastics.
1991, Petroleum Sludge Treatment Process
The Petroleum Sludge Treatment Process (PST) process reduces toxic petroleum wastes by more than 85% and disposal costs to between 10% and 20% of the cost of traditional methods. The process was developed to help crude oil refiners treat thousands of tons of emulsified petroleum sludge. Between 10% and 40% of the sludge can be recovered as oil.
1991, Waste Acid Detoxification and Reclamation System
The Waste Acid Detoxification and Reclamation System (WADR) is a unique process that recovers and recycles metals and acids from industrial waste streams. Industries can use the WADR technology to treat metal-bearing spent acids generated during many commercial operations. A spin-off company has been created to commercialize the technology. The technology also won an FLC Award in 1996.
1990, Pyroflux Glass Melting Process
The Pyroflux process shortens melting and refining times, which allows small furnaces to be used and refining times cut in half. Pyroflux also recovers all usable heat from the exhaust gas so pollutants can easily be removed before the exhaust is released.
1989, Thermochemical Environmental Energy System®
Food processing byproducts, agricultural residues, and other large amounts of wet, organic waste are clarified and treated for use or disposal using the Thermochemical Environmental Energy System (TEES)®process. Food processing wastes can be converted into methane fuel that can be used to power production processes. The system can function as a stand-alone portable unit or be integrated into a larger plant to help industries cost-effectively meet stringent environmental standards. The technology also won an FLC Award in 1989.
1988, Hydrogen Gas Recovery
This technique economically converts hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gas found in natural gas, into a usable form of hydrogen for use in chemical production or as a burnable fuel.
1988, Sludge-to-Oil Reactor System (STORS)
This process converts sewage sludge and agricultural wastes to useful petroleum products. The technology also won an FLC Award in 1988.
FLC Awards
2005, Breakthrough Treatment for Prostate Cancer - PNNL : Larry Greenwood, Chuck Soderquist, Mark Murphy, Deborah Coffey, Jaquetta DesChane; IsoRay : Donald Segna, Lane Bray, David Swanberg, Clay L. O'Laughlin, Garrett Brown
Through access to specialized PNNL facilities, equipment, and expertise under a variety of collaborative agreements between IsoRay and PNNL since 1998, researchers from both organizations contributed to the development of a breakthrough cancer therapy technology to the point where it is helping treat and cure cancer patients. The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) provided access to equipment and two user facilities in a unique way to transfer its radiological expertise to IsoRay Medical, Inc. (IsoRay), Richland WA, to enable the successful launch of its commercial product. IsoRay is producing a powerful new kind of brachytherapy seed made from cesium-131 for treating prostate and other cancers.
2005, Self-Assembled Monolayers on Mesoporous Silica (SAMMS) Technology for Mercury Source Reduction - Glen Fryxell, Shas Mattigod, Jim J. Toth, Rick Skaggs, Eric Lund, Shane Addleman, Tom Zemanian
Mercury contamination poses a serious threat to the environment and human health. PNNL researchers have developed an innovative technology that quickly and easily reduces or removes mercury content without creating hazardous waste or by-products, and that can be disposed of as a nonhazardous waste. SAMMS is simple, inexpensive and easy to use; it is highly adaptable for use in reducing and removing other contaminants from soil and water; and it has numerous applications, including water treatment, waste stabilization, and metal processing and finishing. It is also significantly faster, more effective, and far less expensive than other mercury removal methods used in the past.
2004, Alpha Particle Immunotherapy for Treating Leukemia and Solid-Tumor Metastases
Alpha particle immunotherapy (APIT) is the first treatment that targets metastatic cancers. This groundbreaking technology makes it possible to treat some types of cancer more effectively and with fewer side effects than conventional treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. Immunotherapy combines the power of alpha particle-emitting radioactive isotopes, such as actinium-225 and bismuth-213, with monoclonal antibodies that bind to and destroy specific cancer cells, while sparing nearby healthy tissues. The PNNL-developed separations, purification and conjugate chemistry has made it possible to use these powerful new radioisotopes to treat patients with leukemia or fast-spreading cancers. While researchers at PNNL developed the enabling chemistry, the primary supplier of the radioisotopes is MedActinium, a small radiopharmaceutical firm in Tennessee. MedActinium holds an exclusive license to the new technology, which allows them to develop immunotherapy products and bring the therapy closer to full-scale clinical use.
2003, Engine Exhaust Aftertreatment System Based on Non-Thermal Plasma-Assisted Catalysis
PNNL and its industry partners have developed an engine exhaust aftertreatment system that converts harmful oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) from vehicle engines into components of clean air. PNNL's system, which is based on non-thermal plasma (NTP)- assisted catalysis, addresses industry's serious need for a technology that will meet upcoming 2010 regulations for dramatic reductions in NOx and PM emissions. NOx emissions react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acid rain and are a precursor to ozone, a major component of smog. PM emissions are a source of respiratory irritation and potentially contribute to chronic health effects.
2001, Yttrium-90 for Cancer Treatment
The development of an efficient method for retrieving the medical isotope yttrium-90 (90Y) as a decay product of stockpiled strontium-90 (90Sr) is a breakthrough technology that was developed and patented at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. During the past decade, PNNL has supplied multicurie quantities of 90Y in weekly shipments to hospitals worldwide for treating critically ill cancer patients. Today, 90Y is regarded as the therapeutic isotope of choice for the treatment of many types of human cancer.
In 1999, following a 15-fold growth in the demand for 90Y, the PNNL team successfully privatized the production, shipping, marketing, and sales of this isotope with NEN Life Science Products, Inc. They transferred the patented process for extracting the 90Y isotope from purified 90Sr. Because of the complicated, exacting nature of the extraction process, PNNL provided training and quality control oversight during this technology transfer to ensure that NEN's 90Y met the standards set by the Food and Drug Administration.
2000, Plasma Enhanced Melter for Waste Conversion Process
Commercialization of the Plasma Enhanced Melter (PEM) is the result of many years of work funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop two waste conversion technologies-plasma arc and glass melter. This work was conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and PNNL, respectively. By integrating these two technologies in a special way, the resulting PEM provides the ultimate capability in commercial conversion of waste into useful products and maximizes the potential for recycling because they can accept all kinds of waste at once. Virtually anything that fits into the feeder line can be turned into something-iron, glass or a clean-burning, hydrogen-rich gas. The high temperature of plasmas and their ability to treat waste without the adverse environmental effects encountered in incineration makes PEM an attractive alternative for municipal waste treatment as well as cleanup of government waste sites. PEM was commercialized through a Richland-based start-up company, Integrated Environmental Technologies.
1998, MICLEANTM/MICARETM Solvent Cleaning Systems
The PNNL team took basic research on reverse micelles and worked with a new company, MICELL Technologies, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, to license the technology. The work to bring this technology to commercialization is a case study of the teamwork and long-term commitment needed to bring basic discoveries to the marketplace. It is also a classic demonstration of the important role the national laboratories must now play in keeping the U.S. competitive in the global economy. MICELL is now manufacturing and selling highly effective, environmentally friendly carbon dioxide-surfactant cleaning systems to the dry cleaning and parts cleaning industries, among others. These systems are an alternative to solvent cleaning methods-providing the same cleaning power as organic solvents but without the hazards. The technology also won an R&D 100 Award in 1998.
1996, Catalyzed Electrochemical Oxidation
Catalyzed Electrochemical Oxidation (CEO), an electrochemical process that provides a viable alternative to incineration for the destruction of hazardous solid and liquid wastes, was transferred to EOSystems, Inc., San Jose, California. The technology also won an R&D 100 Award in 1996.
1996, Waste Acid Detoxification and Reclamation System
The Waste Acid Detoxification and Reclamation System (WADR) is an in-process recovery system that separates spent acid into reusable acid, clean water, and reclaimable metal crystals. After the pilot-scale tests were conducted , the technology was transferred to the private sector by means of a partnership with Viatec. Viatec had manufactured the corrosion-resistant equipment used in the WADR pilot-plant system. The technology also won an R&D 100 Award in 1991
1991, In Situ Vitrification
In situ vitrification (ISV) is a unique soil-melting process that economically destroys or removes organic contaminants and dissolves heavy metals and other inorganics in the vitrified soil mass. The technology was invented and developed at PNNL then transferred by means of a spin-off company so that it could become widely available for environmental cleanup.
1990, Conversion of Fermentable Carbohydrates to Acrylate Esters-Lactic Acid and Lower Alkyl Acrylates Production
PNNL researchers developed this process and helped a sugar processing firm in Hawaii gain a license to use it. This process combines fermentation and catalytic processes to produce lactic acid from agricultural wastes. The technology offers a low-cost alternative for productig lactic acid-a costly commodity in the world marketplace. This technology also won an R&D 100 Award in 1991.
1989, Thermochemical Environmental Energy System
Through a novel technology transfer mechanism, Thermochemical Environmental Energy System (TEES)® was licensed to Onsite*Offsite, Inc., an engineering and construction management firm in Pasadena, California. Onsite*Offsite helped PNNL tailor the technology for the food processing and beverage industries-industries that generally are not structured to engineer and develop ancillary technologies. The technology also won an R&D 100 Award in 1989.
1988, Sludge-to-Oil Reactor System (STORS)
The sludge-to-oil reactor system (STORS) is a process for converting sewage sludge and agricultural wastes to a useful petroleum product, and was transferred to the American Fuel and Power Corporation and its successor, Innotek Corporation. The technology also won an R&D 100 Award in 1988.
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award
1999, Catalytic process for upgrading levulinic acid to produce methyltetrahydrofuron.
PNNL developed the first ever multi-step, catalytic process to convert levulinic acid to useful products, including an alternative fuel component called methyltetrahydrofuran or MTHF. MTHF can be used with ethanol and natural gas liquids to create a cleaner burning fuel for cars and trucks that produces less air pollution than petroleum-based gasoline. The award recognizes the use of biomass or waste plant matter to produce useful chemicals, in this case levulinic acid and its derivatives. Biofine, a small Massachusetts company, has developed an economical method of turning paper mill waste into levulinic acid, an important, multipurpose chemical. With the Biofine process, virtually any biomass waste products can be used to create the acid for as little as one-tenth the cost of current manufacturing processes.