A low-cost, low-energy process for treating high-salinity industrial wastewater and affordable biodegradable plastics produced from methane are among the 10 winners of a green chemistry challenge co-sponsored by Nike and NASA.
The latest system Challenge initiated by Launch — an open innovation platform founded by NASA, Nike, the US Agency for International Development and the US Department of State to tackle sustainability challenges — sought innovations that advance green chemistry to transform materials and manufacturing to advance global economic growth, drive human prosperity and replenish the planet’s resources.
Last week the 10 disruptive thinkers behind the green chemistry innovations met at the Kennedy Space Center to work with Launch partners to bring their ideas to market.
Other winning ideas include the first heavy-metal free, heavy-duty anti-corrosion coating that also provides corrosion protection as well as a solvent-free precision cleaning processes utilizing ultrasonic agitation, supercritical carbon dioxide, and plasma.
Earlier Launch Challenges focused on creating new, sustainable materials and developing energy-efficiency and waste-reduction technologies.
