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Innovative Recipients Recognized for Turning Brown into Green Chemistry

Release Date: 06/28/2006
Contact Information: Enesta Jones 202-236-2426/ [email protected]

(Washington--June 28, 2006) Leading researchers and industrial innovators were recognized this week for significant contributions in advancing pollution prevention at the 2006 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The presidential-rank awards are given to select individuals and organizations that have made innovative science contributions with identifiable applications that result in less pollution, waste or both in a manufacturing process. Over the past 11 years, the winners' work has led to the elimination of 750 million pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents, saved more than 550 million gallons of water, and prevented more than 280 million pounds of carbon dioxide. The recipients of this year’s awards were Galen Suppes, a professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia; Arkon Consultants of Irving, Texas; NuPro Technologies of Winston Salem, N.C.; Merck & Company of Whitehouse Station, N.J.; Codexis, Inc. of Redwood City, Calif.; and S. C. Johnson, & Son, Inc. of Racine, Wisc. EPA’s Green Chemistry Challenge promotes research to develop less-toxic alternatives to existing technologies, and to reduce or eliminate waste generation in industrial production. More than 90 nominations were reviewed by an independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society, which selected the five winners.

The awards were given in five categories: Academic, Small Business, Greener Synthetic Pathways, Greener Reaction Conditions and Designing Greener Chemicals.

More information on the green chemistry program: epa.gov/greenchemistry