Nalco Wins Green Chemistry Award For Liquid Polymer Technology
Nalco Chemical Co. (Naperville, IL) has won the 1999 US Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for its development of Ultimer technology, a water-based approach to treating industrial water, wastewater treatment, and papermaking processes. The company received the award last night in an official ceremony at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC.
Ultimer is an advanced water-soluble, liquid polymer technology that is free of environmentally harmful hydrocarbon-based oils and surfactants, which are sometimes used in conventional polymer chemistry. The technology has application in industries that require process, water, and waste treatment programs be run at optimal levels with minimum environmental impact. The polymers are currently being used in many global industries including papermaking, petroleum refining, oil production, mining and mineral processing, steel production, metalworking, automotive, food, and beverage.
The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge was established in 1995 to recognize technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and use; promote fundamental and innovative chemical methodologies that accomplish pollution prevention; and have broad application in industry. Award winners were selected by an independent panel of experts representing the scientific, industrial, governmental, educational, and environmental communities. Nominees were judged on criteria including health and environmental impact, innovation, and industrial applicability. The awards program is a partnership of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the American Chemical Society, and the Council for Chemical Research.
Nalco Chemical Co. is a provider of water treatment and process chemicals, services, and systems with annual sales of nearly $1.6 billion. Nalco serves industries including electronics, food and beverage processing, aerospace, medium and light manufacturing, paper, chemical, petroleum, steel, power generation, metalworking, refining, health care, and education.
For more information, call Graham Jackson of Nalco Chemical Co. at 630-305-1365.