鶹ֱapp(JM)has received a2020 Green Chemistry Challenge Awardfrom theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). JM was awarded this honor fordesigning, developing and commercializingAlpha Binder,a novel formaldehyde-free,bio-based binder for fiberglass reinforcement applications mainly used inthecarpet industry.
The award wasannouncedduring theJune 16American Chemical Society Green ChemistryConference, which washeld online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Green Chemistry Challenge Awards are given tocompanies or institutions that have developed a new process or product that helps protect public health and the environment.This is the first time JM has won this award.
“I am extremely proud of our innovative teamthatdevelopedAlphaBinder chemistry,” saidTim Swales,Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at 鶹ֱapp.“Winning this award recognizes JM as a leader in sustainable, green chemistry solutions.”
Alpha Binder:
- Is non-toxic
- Contains over 90% bio-based carbon
- Eliminates the steps for monomer and polymer synthesis
- Uses a bio-degradable catalyst
- Requires 70% less water
- Reduces energy consumption during manufacturing of the glass mat by over 70% compared to alternative petroleum-based binders
Alpha Binder and glass mats madewithit ― calledEvalith® 1000 ― have been commercialized in North America since 2017.
The research and development and pilot trials for Alpha Binderwere doneat鶹ֱapp Technical Center inLittleton,Colorado. Production trials and commercialization of the final productwas conductedatJMEngineered Productsplants inEtowah,Tennessee,andWaterville,Ohio.
An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute judgedthe 2020 nominations and made recommendations to EPA for the 2020 winners.Other companies that won awards this year includeGenomatica, Merck & Co.andVestaronCorporation.EPA plans to recognize the winners at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., later this year.
Since thestartof theGreen Chemistry Challenge Awardsin 1996, EPA has presented awards tomore than115technologiesthathavereduced the use or generation of hundreds of millions of pounds of hazardous chemicals and saved billions of gallons of water and trillions of BTUs in energy.Past winners have includedgreen chemistrysolutionsdeveloped bycompanies such asTheDowChemical Company, BASF, Cargill, S.C.Johnson & Son and DuPont.
Read more .