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$3.2 Million in Small Business Grants for New Environmental Technologies
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. - EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program announced the award of more than $3 million under its SBIR Phase 2 program to 14 companies for work in five key environmental areas: control and monitoring of air emissions, pollution prevention, solid waste control, hazardous waste treatment, and homeland security.
Seven companies will develop technologies to aid in the monitoring and controlling air pollution.
- ADA Technologies of Littleton, CO are developing a new technology to remove airborne mercury from the exhaust gas streams of incinerators.
- Aerosol Dynamics, of Berkeley, CA will develop a compact and affordable monitor to analyze inorganic ions in atmospheric aerosols.
- VOC Technologies, Inc. (VOTEC) of Portland, OR is developing a new technology to analyze volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants.
- Caviton, Inc. of Champaign, IL will produce a rugged, sensitive, and cost-effective solution to monitor multiple metals.
- Aerodyne Research, Inc. of Billerica, MA will develop a simple, modestly-priced tool to routinely monitor local and regional air quality.
- Physical Sciences, Inc. of Andover, MA is developing a monitor that will be able to identify and measure all the metals on EPA’s hazardous air pollutants list.
- Rupprecht & Patashnik Co., Inc. of East Greenbush, NY are developing an instrument that can provide reliable measurements of outdoor particulate matter (PM) and its composition on an hourly basis.
Three companies were awarded contracts to develop new pollution prevention technologies.
- NanoMech, LLC of Fayetteville, AR will develop a unique, nanotechnology-based process to coat steel using a green technology called ‘dry machining.’ In dry machining, no cutting fluids are used and environmental impacts are virtually eliminated.
- TDA Research, Inc. of Wheat Ridge, CO is developing a new technology to remove airborne mercury from the exhaust gas streams of incinerators.
- MiCell Technologies, Inc. of Raleigh, NC will develop a new electroplating process that could replace copper electroplating in circuit manufacturing for microelectronics.
Four companies are working on technologies related to stormwater control, waste management, and homeland security.
- Wet Weather Engineering and Technology, LLC (WWETCO) of Atlanta, GA will develop a new technology to protect stream wildlife from storm surges while maintaining the carrying capacity of existing storm sewers.
- KenGro Corporation of Charleston, MS are developing a process that uses a plant called kenaf to clean up contaminated waste streams. Kenaf is a member of the hibiscus family, is related to cotton and okra, and grows well in many parts of the country.
- Materials and Electrochemical Research (MER) Corporation of Tucson, AZ will develop an innovative approach to strengthen stucco and prevent it from cracking using crumb rubber from used tires.
- NanoBio Corporation of Ann Arbor, MI will develop a new technology for homeland security use. Their nanotechnology-based material will destroy disease-carrying microorganisms and will not be toxic to living tissues.
EPA is one of 12 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR program, enacted in 1982 to strengthen the role of small businesses in federal Research and Development, create jobs, and promote U.S. technical innovation. There are approximately 22 million small businesses in the United States that employ more than 50 percent of the private work force and develop most of the country's new technologies. To participate in SBIR, a small business must have fewer than 500 employees, and at least 51 percent of the business must be owned by U.S. citizens.
More information about these research projects can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/05awards. To learn more about EPA’s SBIR program, see: www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir.
EPA is now accepting proposals for SBIR research projects. EPA anticipates the award of approximately $2.8 million in firm, fixed-price contracts of approximately $70,000 each. The request for applications will close on May 25, 2005. To learn more, see: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2005/2005_sbir_phase1.html.
EPA relies on quality science and technology as the basis for sound policy and decision-making. EPA’s laboratories, research centers, and SBIR contractors are building the scientific foundation needed to support the Agency’s mission to safeguard human health and the environment.
The small business innovation research program spawns commercial ventures that improve our environment and quality of life, create jobs, increase productivity and economic growth, and improve international competitiveness of the country’s technology industry.