Pollution Prevention Institute awards grants

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The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) has awarded approximately $455,000 to fund six research and development projects focused on applied research designed to stimulate solutions that will help New York state companies remain competitive while reducing their environmental footprint.

As part of its ongoing research and development program, NYSP2I annually solicits proposals from faculty and staff at the institute’s partner universities—Rochester Institute of Technology, Clarkson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University at Buffalo—that support research intended to develop innovative green technologies for organizations to implement. NYSP2I’s efforts are driven by business and organizational needs and are designed to solve specific issues where the solutions result in transferable practices and technologies.

Current research and development priorities include the elimination or substitution of toxic chemicals, overall waste reduction as well as energy-and-water efficiency opportunities in priority manufacturing sectors around the state.

Projects were selected based on their potential to reduce the environmental footprint of New York state businesses.

“This marks the sixth consecutive year that the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute has funded research and development grants selected through a competitive application process,” said Anahita Williamson, NYSP2I director. “We’re proud to once again advance important research efforts that will further develop innovative solutions in sustainability and pollution prevention.”

The following projects were awarded funding from NYSP2I:

• “Transforming food waste digestate into fertilizer for controlled environment food production,” Susan E. Powers and Stefan J. Grimberg, Clarkson University
• “Liquid-phase electrical discharge plasmas for inactivation of pathogens and spoilage organisms in fruit juices and milk,” Selma Mededovic, Clarkson University
• “Increasing the reliability and efficiency of wind turbines by reducing gearbox friction and wear,” Patricia Iglesias Victoria and Michael Haselkorn, RIT
• “Performance enhancement of bioplastic blends,” Carlos A. Diaz, RIT
• “Microbial fuel cells for prevention of food processing wastewater discharge,” Thomas A. Trabold, RIT
• “Feasibility study of antifouling membranes for wastewater reuse,” Haiqing Lin, UB

About the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) is a partnership between the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University at Buffalo and Clarkson University, with a statewide reach. The goal of NYSP2I is to make the state more sustainable for workers, the public, the environment and the economy through pollution prevention. Pollution prevention is reducing or eliminating waste at the source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and re-using materials rather than putting them into the waste stream.

Go to the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute website to learn more about NYSP2I and its research and development program.