Below are brief descriptions of recent successful projects conducted in the MATRIC's Chemical and Environmental Technologies
business area.
Read more about initiating a project with MATRIC.
The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) had sponsored research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on conversion of corn sugar to
isosorbide, a potentially valuable polymer additive. When the ICPB decided that a larger scale process was needed, they approached
MATRIC. Within a month of beginning the project, multiple pounds of pure material were being produced. Subsequent work has led to
an improved larger-scale process, several patent applications, and the shipment of hundreds of pounds of material for applications testing.
Read more about MATRIC’s process development capabilities.
When AKJ Industries was having problems with their existing product line, they asked MATRIC to develop a new side release agent
that would prevent wet coal from freezing to the sides of rail cars during winter transport. Within six weeks, MATRIC had devised a method to
quantitatively measure the effectiveness of potential products and had formulated a new green product with ten times better performance
than the existing side release agents. MATRIC then assisted in the scale-up and commercialization of the new product.
Read more about MATRIC’s product development expertise.
An Australian company experienced two explosions in its chemical manufacturing unit and made contact with MATRIC for assistance.
Within 10 days of initial contact, MATRIC had assembled a project team and sent a contingent to Australia. The root cause of the incidents
was identified and a revised process with inherent safety and improved reliability was developed. The redesigned process was started up
within two months and has operated without incident.
Read more about MATRIC’s safety engineering capabilities.
BEST Energies, a Wisconsin-based bioenergy company, contracted with MATRIC to develop a continuous biodiesel process. Research began
in the laboratory and progressed to a small continuous pilot plant, which was used to develop the novel design for a commercial plant. MATRIC
then led the detailed engineering effort for the plant and provided engineering construction support for the project. The plant, with a capacity
of 8 million gallons per year, began operation within 20 months of the first laboratory experiment.
Read more about MATRIC’s involvement in renewable resources.
Read more about MATRIC’s engineering company, MATE.
NatureWorks, which produces a polymer from 100% natural resources, wanted to expand the capacity of their manufacturing unit and approached
MATRIC for assistance. A project team was formed, which visited the plant site and conducted an initial brainstorming session. Within weeks of the visit,
several of the proposed process improvements were developed and implemented, significantly increasing the productivity of the plant.
Read more about MATRIC’s process improvement expertise.
When a major law firm needed experienced technical resources for a major case involving R&D tax credits, they approached MATRIC. A diverse team
worked closely with the firm and its client to perform a technical assessment of thousands of documents, meeting a challenging schedule for completion. MATRIC
also developed expert reports and testified before the court.
Read more about MATRIC’s capabilities for litigation support.
West Virginia State University has operated an anaerobic fermentation process for treating agricultural waste and converting it to useful and environmentally
acceptable products. MATRIC was engaged to provide process engineering support and evaluate the commercial potential of the process. An economic
model was developed that provided insight into the important considerations for commercialization.
Read more about MATRIC’s involvement in biomass conversion.
