United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
The Presidential
Green Chemistry Challenge
Awards Program
vJomination Package for
2007 Awards
P
Closing Date: December 31, 2006
Recycled/RecyclatelePrinted with Vegetable-Oil Based Irt^s or^100% Postconsumer, Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper
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Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics (7406M)
EPA744-K-06-001
June 2006
www.epa.gov/greenchemistry
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The Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Awards Program:
Nomination Package for 2007 Awards
Contents
Introduction 1
Scope of the Program 1
Additional Requirements 1
Focus Areas 2
Award Categories 2
Selection Criteria 3
How to Enter 4
Judging Entries 6
Notification of Winners 6
Additional Information 6
Footnotes 6
Award Nomination Checklist 7
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The Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Awards Program
Nomination Package for 2007 Awards
THE PRESIDENTIAL GREEN CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE was estab-
lished to recognize and promote innovative chemical technologies that pre-
vent pollution and that have broad applicability in industry. The Challenge is
sponsored by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with the American Chemical
Society and other members of the chemical community.
This nomination package contains concise instructions on how to enter the
competition. The program is open to all individuals, groups, and organizations
in the United States, both nonprofit and for profit, including academia and
industry. Entries must be sent no later than December 31. Awards will be pre-
sented the following summer in Washington, D.C.
The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge recognizes chemical technolo-
gies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design,
manufacture, and use. For the purposes of the program, green chemistry is
defined as "the use of chemistry for source reduction". Source reduction is the
highest tier of the risk management hierarchy as described in the Pollution
Prevention Act of 1990.'
Green chemistry reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous
substances from chemical products and processes. Green chemistry improves
upon all types of chemical products and processes by reducing impacts on
human health and the environment relative to the current state of the art.
In green chemistry, health and environmental effects are important through-
out a technology's lifecycle. Green chemistry technologies, therefore, encompass
all types of chemical processes including syntheses, catalyses, reaction condi-
tions, separations, analyses, and monitoring. A green chemistry technology can
involve implementing incremental improvements at any stage. It can, for exam-
ple, substitute a greener feedstock, reagent, catalyst, or solvent in an existing syn-
thetic pathway. A green chemistry technology also can involve substituting an
improved product or an entire synthetic pathway. Ideally, a green chemistry
technology incorporates the principles of green chemistry at the earliest design
stages of a new product or process.
The nominated green chemistry technology must have reached a significant
milestone within the past five years (e.g., been researched, demonstrated,
implemented, applied, patented, etc.). It must also have a significant component
within the United States.
EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics is particularly interested in
technologies that reduce or eliminate the following: lead; mercury; perfluorinat-
ed alkyl surfactants; polychlorinated or polybrominated biphenyls; or other per-
sistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances.
Introduction
Scope of the
Program
Additional
Requirements
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Focus Areas
Award
Categories
N
Iominated green chemistry technologies should be an example of one or
more of the following three focus areas:
1. The use of greener synthetic pathways
This focus area involves implementing a novel, green pathway for a new
chemical product. It can also involve using a novel, green pathway to
redesign the synthesis of an existing chemical product. Examples include
synthetic pathways that:
Use greener feedstocks that are innocuous or renewable (e.g., bio-
mass, natural oils).
Use novel reagents or catalysts, including biocatalysts and microor-
ganisms.
Are natural processes, such as fermentation or biomimetic synthesis.
Are atom-economical.
Are convergent syntheses.
2. The use of greener reaction conditions
This focus area involves improving conditions other than the overall de-
sign or redesign of a synthesis. Examples include reaction conditions
that:
Replace hazardous solvents with solvents that have a reduced impact
on human health and the environment.
Use solventless reaction conditions and solid-state reactions.
Use novel processing methods.
Eliminate energy- or material-intensive separation and purification
steps.
Improve energy efficiency, including reactions running closer to
ambient conditions.
3. The design of greener chemicals
This focus area involves designing chemical products that are less haz-
ardous than the products or technologies they replace. Examples include
chemical products that are:
Less toxic than current products.
Inherently safer with regard to accident potential.
Recyclable or biodegradable after use.
Safer for the atmosphere (e.g., do not deplete ozone or form smog).
Many green chemistry technologies fit into more than one focus area.
Choose a primary focus area that best fits your technology and list any other
appropriate focus areas. Technologies that do not fit within at least one focus
area may not be within the scope of the program.
Typically, the U.S. EPA presents one award in each of the following cate-
gories:
Small Business: A small business for a green chemistry technology in
any of the three focus areas.
Academic: An academic investigator for a technology in any of the three
focus areas.
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Focus Area 1: An industry sponsor for a technology in focus area 1 (the
use of greener synthetic pathways).
Focus Area 2: An industry sponsor for a technology in focus area 2 (the
use of greener reaction conditions).
Focus Area 3: An industry sponsor for a technology in focus area 3 (the
design of greener chemicals).
Nominated chemistry technologies must fall within the scope of the program.
Technologies that meet the scope will then be judged on how well they meet
the following criteria:
1. Science and innovation
The nominated chemistry technology should be innovative and of scien-
tific merit. The technology should be, for example:
Original (i.e., never employed before).
Scientifically valid. That is, can the nominated technology or strate-
gy stand up to scientific scrutiny through peer review? Does the nom-
ination contain enough chemical detail to prove its scientific validity?
Has the mechanism of action been thoroughly elucidated through
sound scientific research?
2. Human health and environmental benefits
The nominated chemistry technology should offer human health and/or
environmental benefits. The technology might, for example:
Reduce toxicity (acute or chronic) or the potential for illness or injury
to humans, animals, or plants.
Reduce flammability or explosion potential.
Reduce the use or generation of hazardous substances, the transport
of hazardous substances, or releases to air, water, or land.
Improve the use of natural resources, for example, by substituting a
renewable feedstock for a petrochemical feedstock.
3. Applicability
The nominated chemistry technology should have a significant impact.
The technology may be broadly applicable to many chemical processes
or industries; alternatively, it may have great impact on a narrow range
of chemistry. The nominated technology should offer at least the fol-
lowing:
A practical, cost-effective approach to green chemistry.
A remedy to a real environmental or human health problem.
One or more technical innovations that can be transferred readily to
other processes, facilities, or industry sectors.
IMPORTANT: To make the strongest presentation of your technology
for the judges, you should include as much detail (nonproprietary) as pos-
sible in your nomination. The judges will pay close attention to the
specifics of your chemistry, including detailed reaction pathways, com-
parisons to existing technology, toxicity data, quantities of hazardous
substances reduced or eliminated, degree of implementation in com-
merce, and other technical, human health, environmental, and econom-
ic benefits.
Selection Criteria
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How to Enter
Self-nominations are allowed and expected. There is no entry fee and no stan-
dard entry form, but nominations must meet certain requirements.
Nominations must be single-spaced and no longer than eight pages, with type no
smaller than 12-point. When printed on 8V2-by-ll-inch paper, they must have
margins of at least 1 inch. Nominations that do not meet these requirements may
be rejected by EPA. Nominations may include chemical reactions, tables, graphs,
photographs, and other illustrations. Although nominations may be in color, the
judges may read the nominations printed in black and white. Nominations
should not, therefore, require color for interpretation.
A nomination must include the following:
1. A cover page with the project tide followed by the date of the nomina-
tion and the complete names (with titles as appropriate), addresses, tele-
phone numbers, and email addresses of the following individuals or
organizations:
Primary sponsor(s): the individual or organizational owner of the tech-
nology. For academic nominations, the primary sponsor is usually the
principal investigator.
Contact person(s): the individual who is responsible for communicating
with the awards program sponsors. For academic nominations, the con-
tact person is usually the principal investigator. For other nominations,
the contact should be a project manager or other technical representative.
Contributors: those individuals or organizations that have provided
financial or technical support for development or implementation of the
nominated technology. Providing information on contributor (s) is
optional.
EPA will add the people listed as sponsors and contacts to a contact database.
EPA periodically sends reminders and updates about the program to those in this
database.
2. The second page should contain the following information:
Project title.
Short description of the most recent milestone (s), with date(s), that the
nominated technology has reached within the past five years.
Examples include, but are not limited to: critical discovery made,
results published, patent application submitted or approved, pilot
plant constructed, and technology implemented or commercialized.
Only one milestone is required.
Statement indicating whether the nominated technology is eligible for
the small business award, the academic award, or both.
Statement indicating which one of the three focus areas best describes
the nominated technology (i.e., the primary focus area). If the nomi-
nated technology falls within more than one focus area, you may
include the secondary focus area(s).
If the nominated technology involves international or multinational
collaboration: Description of the aspects of the technology that
occurred within the U.S. during the past five years.
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An abstract not to exceed 300 words that describes the nominated
technology. Consider including information about the problem your
technology addresses and the benefits of your technology. EPA plans
to publish these abstracts in its annual Summary of Award Entries
and Recipients booklet.
3. The third page should consist of a one-page executive summary of the
nominated technology. Please repeat the project title on this page. For
the winning technologies, EPA plans to publish this summary in its
Award Recipients booklet, on its website, and in its Summary of Award
Entries and Recipients booklet.
4. The remaining pages should explain in detail how the nominated tech-
nology meets the scope of the program and the selection criteria (see
pages 1-2). Explain the following:
The chemistry of the new technology, emphasizing how the technol-
ogy is innovative and of scientific merit. Consider including chemi-
cal structure diagrams rather than using simple text to describe your
chemistry. Patent numbers or references to peer-reviewed publica-
tions may also strengthen your nomination. The judges recognize the
interdisciplinary nature of green chemistry. To be eligible for an
award, however, your technology must include a significant chem-
istry component, even though it is probably the result of collabora-
tions with engineers, biologists, toxicologists, etc.
The problem (environmental or human health risk) that your tech-
nology addresses and how your technology solves the problem.
In addition, EPA strongly encourages you to compare the cost, performance,
and environmental profile of your technology with any competing technologies.
This may help you demonstrate the broad applicability of your technology.
You may include structure diagrams, tables, and other graphics. You may use
color in your nomination, but be aware that the nomination may be printed in
black and white, so information in color may be illegible.
There is no limit on the number of nominations that EPA will accept from
any one sponsor. A sponsor must, however, submit each nomination separately.
All entries received will be considered public information. No material will
be returned. Program sponsors are not responsible for lost or damaged entries.
EPA acknowledges receipt of nominations, usually by email. If you have not
received an acknowledgment by mid-January, please contact the Green
Chemistry Program at greenchemistry@epa.gov or (202) 564-8740.
Submit an electronic copy of the nomination with the primary sponsor's
name in the file name. It may be to your advantage to submit your nomination
as a .pdf file to minimize possible reading errors, but EPA accepts and is able to
read all common file types. The electronic copy may be emailed to green-
chemistry@epa.gov (preferred) or sent on a floppy disk, Zip disk, or CD, clear-
ly labeled with the sponsor, computer format (Windows or Macintosh), and file
name(s). The nomination must be sent no later than December 31.
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Judging Entries
Notification of
Winners
Additional
Information
Footnotes
Note: Irradiation of Federal mail may damage electronic media. To send a
disk, please use a package delivery service and the following address:
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge
Attn: Richard Engler
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA East, Room 5133
1201 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004
Telephone: 202-564-8740
A panel of technical experts selected by the American Chemical Society will
judge the nominations. These experts might include members of the scien-
tific, industrial, governmental, educational, and environmental communities. The
judges may request verification of any chemistry described or claims made in
nominations that are selected as finalists. The judges will select award recipients
based on the green chemistry technologies that best meet the selection criteria.
Winners will be notified prior to the official public announcement, which will
be made in summer 2007, in Washington, DC. A crystal sculpture will be
presented to the primary sponsor(s) of the winning green chemistry technology
in each of the five award categories. Certificates will be presented to individuals
(as identified by the primary sponsor) who contributed to the research, develop-
ment, or implementation of the chemistry.
/'"Xuestions about eligibility, nomination procedures, or the Presidential Green
V^/ Chemistry Challenge program should be directed to EPA's Industrial
Chemistry Branch at greenchemistry@epa.gov or (202) 564-8740.
'Pertinent sections of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990: Sec. 6601.
SHORT TITLE. This subtitle may be cited as the "Pollution Prevention
Act of 1990." Sec. 6602. FINDINGS AND POLICY.
(b) Policy. - "The Congress hereby declares it to be the national policy of
the United States that pollution should be prevented or reduced at the
source whenever feasible."
Sec. 6603. DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this subtitle -"(5)(A) The
term "source reduction" means any practice which:
(i) reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant
entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including
fugitive emissions) prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal, and
(ii) reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with
the release of such substances, pollutants, or contaminants."
2A small business is defined here as one with annual sales of less than $40 mil-
lion, including all domestic and foreign sales by the company, its subsidiaries,
and its parent company.
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lease use the format below for the cover page of your nomination
Sample Cover
Page
Title of Nomination
Date of Nomination
Academic Sponsors:
Primary Sponsor (s):
Full Name (Primary Investigator)
Tide
Address
Phone
Email
Contact Person(s):
Full name
Tide
Address
Phone
Email
Contributor (s): (optional)
Individuals and/or organizations
Business Sponsors:
Primary Sponsor (s):
Company Name
Full Name (optional)
Tide (optional)
Address
Phone
Email
Contact Person(s):
Full name
Tide
Address
Phone
Email
Contributor (s): (optional)
Individuals and/or organizations
Your nomination should include die following components: (see "How to Enter,"
page 4, for details)
D Cover page
D Short description of die most recent milestone (s) and date(s).
D Statement indicating whetiier die nomination is eligible for an award in the
academic category, die small business category, or botii.
D Statement identifying die primary focus area for the nominated technology
and any secondary focus area(s).
D For international or multinational collaborations: Statement of the activities
tiiat took place witiiin die United States during die past five years.
D Abstract (300 words or fewer).
D Executive summary (limit: one page).
D Description of nominated technology (5 pages or fewer).
Award
Nomination
Checklist
Note: EPA requires only an electronic copy of each nomination; it no longer
requires a hard copy.
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