BioPetroClean

Integrated Sensor Technologies is a company that received a SBIR Phase II grant for a project entitled: Structurally Integrated Organic Light Emitting Device-Based Sensors for Dissolved Oxygen in Water. Their project aims to develop and commercialize a novel, next-generation photoluminescence (PL)-based, palm-size and miniaturizable dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor. DO sensors are primary monitors of water quality in industrial wastewater treatment. The new sensor is based on a pioneering platform for PL-based biochemical sensors where the excitation source is a pulsed organic light emitting device (OLED) pixel array that is structurally integrated with the sensor component. The individually addressable pixels and the sensor film are fabricated on either side of the glass substrate. The photodetector is "behind" the OLED array, monitoring the PL passing between the OLED pixels. This uniquely simple structural integration enables multi-sensor fabrication on a single, compact substrate, and should therefore yield field-deployable micro-sensor arrays for simultaneous detection of various analytes. This sensor has applicability in water quality measurements in wastewater treatment, power, pulp and paper, chemical, food, beverage, brewing, and pharmaceuticals plants, fish farms, fresh water, coastlines, and the oceans. Current sensors suffer from key drawbacks that limit their utility and application. Electrochemical sensors require frequent calibration and maintenance, and are typically slow to respond. PL-based sensors are expensive due to intricate design. The proposed sensor will be reliable, require very little maintenance/calibration, and will be inexpensive, with a flexible design and size. The proposed device will be uniquely simple, initially palm-size and eventually micro-size, autonomous, fast, miserly on power consumption, and inexpensive. It will be structurally integrated and will operate in a pulsed PL-lifetime mode, eliminating the need for optical components and frequent calibration. Integrated Sensor Technologies is a company that received a SBIR Phase I grant for a project entitled: Structurally Integrated Organic Light Emitting Device-Based Sensors for Dissolved Oxygen in Water. Their project aims to develop a next-generation microsensor for dissolved oxygen (DO) in water. DO sensors are a primary tool for gauging the quality of both fresh water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) and the oceans; for monitoring the various processes in waste water treatment plants; and, for monitoring fermentation processes in the food and beverage industries. Unfortunately, electrochemical sensors are slow (response time >1 min), short-lived (a few days), and expensive (~$500). The proposed DO sensor is based on a new platform of structurally integrated photoluminescence (PL)-based chemical and biological sensors. In this platform, the pulsed light source that excites the PL is an array of individually addressable ~100 um2 to ~1 cm2 organic light-emitting device (OLED) pixels. The small pixels will eventually enable development of microsensor arrays. The ~0.5 um-thick pixel array and ~1 um-thick sensor film will be fabricated on opposite sides of a glass or plastic substrate, or on two substrates attached back-to-back. The Si photodiode will be "behind" the OLED array, monitoring the PL passing between the OLED pixels. This uniquely simple structurally integrated platform should ultimately yield multianalyte chemical and biological microsensor arrays for a wide variety of agents. If successful the proposed device will be uniquely simple, initially palm-size and eventually microsize, autonomous, fast (~1 sec response), miserly on power consumption, and inexpensive (ultimately with an essentially disposable OLED/sensor film module). It will operate in the PL-lifetime mode, eliminating the need for frequent calibration. It will consequently replace the short-lived electrochemical sensors and the expensive PL-based DO sensors that currently serve the diverse markets listed above. The proposed development of the DO microsensor will demonstrate the viability of the new OLED-based sensor platform, leading the way towards the development of multianalyte chemical and biological microsensor arrays for gas and liquid phases. This development will enhance scientific and technological needs in the field of sensor technology by addressing current issues of sensor size, cost, analyte sampling, and field deployability.

Permafuels, Inc. is a Chapel Hill, NC based company that has received a grant(s) from the Department of Energy's SBIR/STTR program. The abstract(s) for these grant award(s) are provided as well since they provide insights into Permafuels, Inc.'s business and areas of expertise. Although biodiesel production using supercritical alcohols is an extremely fast and clean method, it has not been economically competitive with conventional catalytic approaches. This project will optimize the supercritical process to enable cost-effective commercial production of biodiesel fuel.

American Biodiesel, dba Community Fuels, is an advanced biofuel producer. The company produces among the highest quality biomass-based diesel fuels available - which qualifies as an Advanced Biofuel through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and its own fuel standard closely mirrors the requirements of multiple major oil companies and exceeds the Federal fuel standard (ASTM Standard).

Central Washington Biodiesel (CWBiodiesel) is producing 100% Washington biodiesel using only Washington grown and processed vegetable oil.

Renewable Oil International is a Florence, AL based company that has received a grant(s) from the Department of Energy's SBIR/STTR program. The abstract(s) for these grant award(s) are provided as well since they provide insights into Renewable Oil International's business and areas of expertise. The project will produce liquid biofuels from wood biomass resources by fast pyrolysis followed by upgrading of the pyrolysis oils. This research will be a key step towards ending global warming, improving national security, and improving rural economies by reducing our dependence on petroleum feedstocks. Declining petroleum resources, combined with increased demand for petroleum by emerging economies, as well as political and environmental concerns about fossil fuels, are causing our society to search for new sources of liquid fuels. This project will develop a method for conversion of biomass into liquid fuels at a small scale called fast pyrolysis—a process whereby biomass is rapidly converted into a liquid biocrude which can be used for fuel oil or upgraded into gasoline and diesel fuels.

FirmGreen is an integrated energy company participating in virtually all aspects of the global green energy business. FirmGreen is involved with identifying, developing and commercializing new and emerging technologies, and alternative fuels that promise to play an increasingly important role in the world's energy mix. FirmGreen's patented technology includes methods of converting solid, liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons from readily available renewable resources including landfill gas, forest residues, and biomass into renewable electricity and clean biofuels to power vehicles and fuel cells.