Pollution Prevention Institute offers funding

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The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute has awarded approximately $419,000 to fund 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.

NYSP2I, as part of its ongoing research and development program, annually solicits proposals from faculty and staff at the institute’s partner universities—Clarkson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University at Buffalo, and Rochester Institute of Technology—that support both short- and long-term strategic research intended to drive 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, and energy-and-water efficiency opportunities in priority manufacturing sectors, as well as projects primarily benefitting the Buffalo area.

This year, NYSP2I provided seed funding to validate a research concept with the expectation that the principle investigator will pursue follow-on funding either from NYSP2I or another sponsor for each feasible research concept. Projects were selected based on their potential to reduce the environmental footprint of businesses in an effective and economical way.

“The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute is very pleased to announce the recipients of research and development grants selected from a competitive application process,” says Anahita Williamson, director. “This funding is designed to further stimulate research efforts and develop innovative solutions in the broad categories of sustainability and pollution prevention.”

The following projects were awarded funding from NYSP2I:

• “Hybrid antifouling coatings for freshwater applications,” Frank Bright, University at Buffalo
• “Technology for the removal of oil from water aimed at New York State pollution prevention,” Deborah Chung, University at Buffalo
• “Assessment of conventional waste management and advanced waste treatment systems in removing antibiotics, hormones, and antibiotic resistance genes from dairy manure,” Diana Aga, University at Buffalo
• “Intelligent decision-enabled application (IDEA) for energy-efficient additive manufacturing,” Rahul Rai, University at Buffalo
• “Analysis of the effectiveness of vector wall enhancements to the claus process,” Joe Plawsky, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• “Recycling and regeneration of RTILs in lignocellulosic pretreatment,” Trevor Simmons, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• “Stability of cement free green concrete in aqueous media and the potential environmental impact,” Sulapha Peethamparan, Clarkson University
• “SME building and process monitoring for energy efficiency,” Michael Thurston, Rochester Institute of Technology
• “Induction heating of steel for improved mechanical and physical properties and energy reduction,” Michael Haselkorn, Rochester Institute of Technology
• “Assessment of used lithium-ion batteries for less-demanding, secondary applications,” Nenad Nenadic, Rochester Institute of Technology
• “Data-driven optimization of Buffalo wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs): An Energy Perspective,” Rahul Rai, University at Buffalo
• “Development of algae cultivation for nutrient recovery from the nearshore Great Lakes in Buffalo, N.Y.,” David Blersch, University at Buffalo
• “Design, build and test an ultra-high efficiency primary surface heat exchanger,” Joseph Mollendorf, University at Buffalo
• “Smart lifeline systems for improving water and energy efficiency,” Salvatore Salamone, University at Buffalo

For more information on NYSP2I’s research and development program, go to New York State Pollution Prevention Institute website.

About the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute:

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute is housed at Rochester Institute of Technology and provides statewide, comprehensive and integrated programming in technology research, development and diffusion, training and education aimed at making New York state more sustainable for workers, the public, the environment and the economy. NYSP2I was created in 2008 through a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Additional partners include Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Clarkson University, State University of New York at Buffalo and New York’s 10 Regional Technology Development Centers. To learn more, go to New York State Pollution Prevention Institute website.