The global research and technology-based company E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. Inc. recently donated patents and other intellectual property to The University of Alabama that could produce new materials to replace volatile organic compounds traditionally used in chemical manufacturing processes.
Applications for this new chemical synthesis technology range from automotive finishes to high-tech composite materials and new catalysts.
Dr. Robin Rogers, professor of chemistry and director of UA’s Center for Green Manufacturing, said the donation from DuPont fits into a number of ongoing goals within the University, including the development of new environmentally benign technologies and the strengthening of business and university collaborations within the state of Alabama.
The Center for Green Manufacturing is a part of the Alabama Institute for Manufacturing Excellence, a partnership between UA, state industry and government agencies.
Center faculty plan extensive further development of this technology. Not only will this technology form the basis of leading-edge educational experiences for UA students, but the application and development of this chemistry will allow the University to serve its community through the creation of ‘greener,’ environmentally friendly manufacturing standards, Rogers said.
The chemistry covered by these patents will provide more easily synthesized intermediates for pharmaceutical and agricultural compounds, new polymers, as well as improvements in the manufacture of printed circuit boards, the researchers said.
UA is a leading partner in working with the state’s chemical industries as part of an ongoing effort to develop economically sound solutions to industrial pollution. Through initiatives such as its Center for Green Manufacturing and the Alabama Institute for Manufacturing Excellence, the University is committed to the technological and economic advancement of the state and region through the discovery and creation of environmentally friendly chemical manufacturing standards — a goal that the donated DuPont technology will help realize.