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A
visitor to MATRIC recently commented: "I've been walking through your
facility and every time I pass a group of folks they are talking science.
It is so refreshing to hear those kinds of conversations going on!"
The word science comes from the Latin "scientia," meaning knowledge. According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, the definition of science is "knowledge attained through study or practice," or "knowledge covering general truths of the operation of general laws, esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method [and] concerned with the physical world." Science as defined above is sometimes called pure science to differentiate it from applied science, which is the application of research to human needs. What is the purpose of science? Perhaps the most general description is that the purpose of science is to produce useful models of reality. As you will see in the articles that follow, we at MATRIC engage in both pure science (research) and applied science (development) and inject a healthy dose of reality to the development of useful technologies that can indeed be called "life-changing." | ||||||
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 Using desalination technology developed by MATRIC, NGInnovations will
install a 2400 barrel per day unit at a CNX site located in Pennsylvania
early this month. This NG Pure Separations Unit can be used for either
coal bed methane (as in this case) or conventional natural gas wells. The
unit reduces the total dissolved solids (TDS) to a level that allows the
resulting water to be used for new wells and fracturing. A second unit
will be fabricated for placement at the same site in the fall.NGI has also developed an NG Pure Recovery Pilot Unit for treating frac and produced water. This unit removes both fracture oils and high concentrations of TDS and salt from water to the surface discharge standards set by the DEP and the EPA. It produces a solid salt or heavy brine for resale that can help offset the cost of the unit's operation. The first unit is set to be installed at a Marcellus well site in the fall. NGI President Don Booth stated: “We have received a great deal of interest in both units and are negotiating with potential customers to deliver several more units before the end of the year.” NGI can manufacture these units to meet specific customer needs including differing barrel volumes on a per day requirement. They can be mobile (trailer-based), mounted on trucks or oil field skids, or secured in large metal shipping containers providing on site security. The units are motorized and will run on diesel fuel, gasoline, waste gas or sweet gas, depending on availability. For more information, contact Don Booth, 800/611-2296 x830. | ||||||
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 Coal mines throughout Appalachia have water issues related to
high selenium concentrations. This problem is not specific to the coal
industry; phosphate mines in Idaho, the agriculture industry in California
and metals processing plants in Tennessee are all facing the same
situation. The EPA has issued regulatory direction that the selenium
concentration in surface discharge water must be below 5 parts per billion
(ppb).MATRIC worked with its customers to provide a cost-effective solution for the removal or reduction of selenium in industrial wastewater. Through laboratory research MATRIC has invented a chemical process that transforms the selenium through enhanced reactivity and mass transport phenomena into an absorbable form. MATRIC’s engineers designed a passive system (using no pumping or additional mechanical equipment) that essentially allows operator-free unattended operation. The scalable modular design has a much smaller footprint and lower capital costs than competitive designs. In addition, the passive system works well in remote locations. MATRIC’s selenium removal technology will be marketed through Liberty Hydrologic Systems LLC. Liberty will fabricate market and maintain treatment systems to remove selenium, metals and other contaminants from extraction industry sources. Liberty has recently contracted to provide a pilot unit to the J. R. Simplot Company’s Black Canyon Mine in Pocatello, Idaho. Liberty President Vic Sprouse commented: “We are excited to solve what has been a particularly difficult problem for everyone, the discharge of selenium into waterways. The passive nature of the system allows us to remove selenium from water not only in a cost effective and environmentally responsible manner, but also in the most remote locations and harsh conditions imaginable.” Liberty has recently contracted to provide a pilot unit to the J. R. Simplot Company’s Black Canyon Mine in Pocatello, Idaho. For more information, contact Vic Sprouse, 800/611-2296 x839. | ||||||
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Twenty-five percent of MATRIC's revenue is currently from
international clients, but MATRIC has plans to dramatically increase our
overseas work in the future. With budding partnerships with the Italian
Manufacturer's Association, ethanol manufacturers in Brazil, natural gas
producers in Russia, and civil water authorities in China, MATRIC has the
potential to bring significant business opportunities from international
clients to our scientists and engineers at the Dow Technology
Park.
In a global economy, MATRIC believes that solving problems around the world is both a business imperative and a social responsibility. The mission to change lives with technology is not limited to West Virginia or the United States, but challenges our scientists and engineers to provide clean drinking water to Africa, biofuels to Europe, or pollution control systems to China because our attention is on the needs of people—not countries or corporations. | ||||||
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Terms
were finalized at the end of April on a $2M loan from the state's venture
capital fund, the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust. The money was
appropriated by the Legislature in 2008.
The loan is the latest MATRIC effort to raise capital. MATRIC's goal is to hire as many Dow Chemical researchers as possible as Dow downsizes here. Keith Pauley, MATRIC's CEO, said last month that the organization has created 150 high-wage jobs and spawned nine businesses. MATRIC was established in 2003. Gov. Joe Manchin said in a prepared statement, "I commend the work and partnership that MATRIC and the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust have established. This agreement will allow our state to continue to build on our technology and scientific research endeavors. I have said that if we expect to compete on a global level, create job opportunities and expand our economy, then we must continue to enhance our technology and scientific development." | ||||||
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Mid-Atlantic Technical Engineering has moved from Building 2000 at
the Dow Technology Park to Building 740, the building that also is home to
MATRIC. This move will allow greater interaction between the engineering
staff and research staff working together to deliver client services.
Engineering Manager Jeff Leepard noted: "We are excited about being closer
to the "action" at MATRIC. All of us feel that this is a very positive
step in MATE's evolution."
MATE is a multi-discipline engineering firm with a focus of providing engineering, consulting and technical services to three key business sectors: energy, chemicals, and water. MATE's engineering group provides process, mechanical, civil, electrical, chemical, automation and control systems engineering, as well as other project services. Areas of expertise include: project management, detailed engineering, procurement and operations training. MATE’s full life cycle of services from laboratory research (via MATRIC) through engineering, construction management and plant start-up offers significant value to our customers and is a unique differentiator from typical contract engineering firms. | ||||||
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 Nolan B. Nicholas, Ph.D. recently joined our staff as a Research
Scientist. Nolan holds undergraduate degrees in Physics, Metallurgical
Engineering and Materials Science Engineering from the University of Idaho
and received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Rice University in Houston.
As a physics junkie, Nolan was drawn to Rice University by the presence of
teacher/mentor Richard E. Smalley. Smalley, co-winner of the 1996 Nobel
Prize in Chemistry for the 1985 discovery of fullerenes, has long been
known as the champion of nano-technology. Smalley's enthusiasm and belief
in the beneficial potential of nanotechnology were readily transferred to
his students and Nolan is no exception. The focus of Nolan's current
research is twofold: first, to develop a unique synthesis route for
nano-precise fabrication of carbon nanotubes; and, second, to develop
macroscopic engineering materials based on carbon nanotube
structures.The potential of the synthesis research is directed toward the enablement of next generation electronics devices for applications ranging from high speed computer chips to flash memory replacements. Carbon nanotube based engineering materials with increased specific strength and modulus will be directed for use in aerospace and other high performance applications; such high performance, light-weight materials have great potential for enabling significant weight reduction and increased efficiency for next generation aerospace craft. Nolan stated that he has found in MATRIC a place where innovative development of useful technologies is always encouraged and comes as a regular occurrence. He said: “I particularly appreciate the diversity of work being undertaken at MATRIC and the benefits of internal interaction both formal and informal with such a broad range of expertise. MATRIC seems much more adept at making this work than I have previously observed in other university or private settings.” Nolan, his wife and their three daughters have had little difficulty feeling at home in the mountains (and rain) of West Virginia after enduring nearly five years of sweltering Texas heat. We are pleased to welcome them into the MATRIC family. | ||||||
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Process
Engineers
Systems Engineers Laboratory Technicians Please visit our website at www.matricresearch.com for more information. | ||||||
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