United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
The Presidentia
Green Chemistry Challenge
Awards Program: ^A
Nomination Package for
2010 Awards
Closing Date: December 31, 2009
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for
Introduction[[[ 1
Scope of the Program[[[ 1
Additional Requirements[[[ 1
Focus Areas 2
Award Categories[[[ 2
Selection Criteria[[[ 3
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Nomination Package for 2010 Awards
PRESIDENTIAL GREEN CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE was estab-
-L lished to recognize and promote innovative chemical technologies that
prevent pollution and have broad applicability in industry. The Challenge is
sponsored by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 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 individuals, groups, and non-governmental
organizations in the United States, both nonprofit and for profit, including aca-
demia and industry. Entries must be sent no later than December 31. Awards
will be presented 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 prevents
the formation of any hazardous substance in any chemical product or process. Source
reduction is the highest tier of the risk management hierarchy as described in
the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.1 It is preferable to recycling, treatment, or
disposal. Chemical technologies that include recycling, treatment, and disposal
may be eligible for the Challenge Program if they offer source reduction over
traditional technologies for recycling, treatment, and disposal.
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 competing technologies.
Green chemistry technologies encompass all types of chemical processes
including syntheses, catalyses, reaction conditions, separations, analyses, and
monitoring. A green chemistry technology can involve implementing incre-
mental improvements at any stage. It can, for example, substitute a greener
feedstock, reagent, catalyst, or solvent in an existing synthetic 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. Benefits to human health and the environment may occur at any
points in the technology's lifecycle: extraction, synthesis, use, and ultimate fate.
To be eligible for an award, a green chemistry technology must have reached
a significant milestone within the past five years (e.g., been researched, dem-
onstrated, implemented, applied, patented, etc.) . It must also have a significant
component within the United States. If you have a question about the eligibility
of your technology, please contact us by email at greenchemistry@epa.gov.
Introduction
Scope of the
Program
Additional
Requirements
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Focus Areas
Award
Categories
Nominated 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 designing and implementing a novel, green path-
way for a 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
design or redesign of a synthesis. Greener analytical methods often fall
within this focus area. 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 that prevent pollution at its source.
« 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 and implementing chemical products
that are less hazardous 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.
Technologies that do not fit within at least one focus area may not be within the
scope of the program.
EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics is particularly interested in
technologies that reduce or eliminate the following: lead; mercury; perfluori-
nated alkyl surfactants; polychlorinated or polybrominated biphenyls; or other
persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances.
T
ypically, EPA presents one award in each of the following categories:
* Small Business: A small business2 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 that uses greener
synthetic pathways.
« Focus Area 2: An industry sponsor for a technology that uses greener
reaction conditions.
« Focus Area 3: An industry sponsor for a technology that includes 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 strategy
stand up to scientific scrutiny through peer review? Does the nomi-
nation contain enough chemical detail to prove its scientific valid-
ity? Has the mechanism of action been elucidated through scientific
research?
2. Human health and environmental benefits
The nominated chemistry technology should offer human health and/
or environmental benefits at some point in its lifecycle from resource
extraction to ultimate disposal. 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.
Quantitative statements of benefits are more useful to judges than are
qualitative statements.
3. Applicability and impact
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. Commercial implementation can support the applicabil-
ity and impact of a technology. Nominations for pre-commercial tech-
nologies should discuss economic feasibility. The nominated technology
should offer the following:
m 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.
Selection Criteria
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How to Enter
Self-nominations are allowed and expected. There is no entry fee and no
standard entry form, but nominations must meet certain requirements.
Nominations must be single-spaced and no longer than eight pages with 12-point
type; references, captions, and footnotes may be as small as 10-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 as part of the eight pages. 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
a. Project title followed by the date of the nomination.
b. Primary sponsor(s): the individual or organizational owner of the
technology. For academic nominations, the primary sponsor is usually
the principal investigator. For nominations with more than one sponsor,
each co-sponsor should have had a significant role in the research, devel-
opment, or implementation of the technology.
c. Contact person: the one individual with whom EPA should commu-
nicate regarding the nomination. For academic nominations, the contact
person is usually the principal investigator. For other nominations, the
contact should be a project manager or other technical representative.
d. Contributors (optional): those individuals or organizations that have
provided financial or technical support for development or implementa-
tion of the nominated technology.
EPA will add the person listed as a contact to a contact database. EPA period-
ically sends reminders and updates about the program to those in this database.
Individuals may opt out at any time.
2. The second page should contain the following information:
« Project title.
« Short description of the most recent milestone, with date, that the
nominated technology has reached within the past five years. One
or two lines are sufficient. Examples include, but are not limited to:
critical discovery made, results published, patent application submit-
ted or approved, pilot plant constructed, technology implemented or
commercialized, and relevant regulatory review (e.g., by EPA under
TSCA or FIFRA3; by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under
FFDCA4) initiated or completed. Only one milestone is required.
« A sentence indicating whether the nominated technology is eligible
for the small business award, the academic award, both, or neither.
« Identification of the focus area (or areas) that fit your technology. No
explanation is needed.
« Description of the research, development, or aspects of the technol-
ogy that occurred within the United States. If the only aspect of the
technology within the Unites States is product sales, the nomination
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may not meet the scope of the program.
« Abstract not to exceed 350 words that describes the nominated tech-
nology, the problem it addresses, and its benefits. Include the state of
implementation of the technology and any quantitative benefits such
as amount (or potential amount) of hazardous substances eliminated.
EPA plans to publish these abstracts in its annual Summary of Award
Entries and Recipients booklet. If you are renominating a technol-
ogy, you may use the abstract previously published by EPA in whole
or in part.
« Note: An executive summary is no longer necessary.
The information in this section should fit on page 2, but you may continue
on page 3 if necessary.
3. The remaining pages should explain in detail how the nominated tech-
nology meets the scope of the program (see page 1) and the selection
criteria (see page 3). Explain the following:
« The chemistry of the new technology, emphasizing how the technol-
ogy is innovative and of scientific merit. Consider including chemical
structure diagrams rather than text to describe your chemistry. Patent
numbers or references to peer-reviewed publications may strengthen
your nomination. The judges recognize the interdisciplinary nature
of green chemistry; however, to be eligible for an award, your tech-
nology must include a significant chemistry component.
« The problem (environmental or human health risk) that your tech-
nology addresses, the importance of that problem, and how your
technology solves the problem.
« How your technology compares with other technologies that may
address the same problem.
« The realized or potential benefits and drawbacks across all stages of
your technology's lifecycle: from feedstocks to manufacture to use of
the product to ultimate disposal of the product.
IMPORTANT: To make the strongest presentation of your technology
for the judges, you should include as much nonproprietary detail as pos-
sible in your nomination. The judges will pay close attention to the specifics
of your chemistry, including detailed reaction pathways, comparisons to
existing technology, toxicity data, quantities of hazardous substances reduced
or eliminated, degree of implementation in commerce, and other technical,
human health, environmental, and economic benefits. The judges recognize
that some sponsors will not be able to conduct a full lifecycle analysis, but
like to see a discussion of impacts across the lifecycle. In addition, EPA
strongly encourages you to compare the cost, performance, and environ-
mental profile of your technology with any competing technologies. This
may help you demonstrate the broad applicability of your technology.
It may help the judges if you address the status of any novel chemical sub-
stances or organisms under any appropriate laws such as TSCA3, FIFRA3, or
FFDCA4, especially if the technology is or is about to be commercially avail-
able.
You may include structure diagrams, tables, other graphics, and references,
but all information must fit within the eight-page limit. 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.
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Judging
Notification of
Winners
Additional
Information
You may nominate more than one technology, but you must submit a separate nomi-
nation for each technology. You should probably combine multiple applications of the
same general technology in a single nomination, however.
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 by email to the person listed as the Contact Person
on page 1. 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 in such a format that EPA can
select and copy text from it Please include 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 com-
mon file types. You should email the electronic copy to greenchemistry@epa.
gov. If you cannot send the file via email, you may send it on a CD, clearly labeled
with the sponsor(s). The nomination must be sent no later than December 31.
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 convened by the American Chemical Society will
judge nominations. These experts might include members of the scientific, industri-
al, 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 as award recipients those 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 2010, in Washington, D.C. 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 spon-
sor) who contributed to the research, development, or implementation of the chemistry.
Direct any questions about eligibility, nomination procedures, or the Presidential
Green Chemistry Challenge program to EPA's Industrial Chemistry Branch at
greenchemistry@epa.gov or (202) 564-8740.
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please use the format below for the cover page of your nomination.
Sample Cover
Page
Academic Sponsor
Title of Nomination
Date of Nomination
Primary Sponsor(s):
Full Name (Primary Investigator)
Name of Institution
Contact Person:
Full name
Tide
Address
Phone
Email
Contributor (s): (optional)
Individuals and/or organizations
Business Sponsor
Title of Nomination
Date of Nomination
Primary Sponsor (s):
Company Name
Full Name (optional)
Tide (optional)
Address (optional)
Phone (optional)
Email (optional)
Contact Person:
Full name
Tide
Address
Phone
Email
Contributor (s): (optional)
Individuals and/or organizations
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Award
Nomination
Checklist
Include the following components:
(see "How to Enter," page 4, for details)
D Cover page
D Short description of the most recent milestone and date; only one milestone
is required.
D Statement indicating whether the nomination is eligible for an award in the
academic category, the small business category, both, or neither.
D Statement identifying the focus area(s) for the nominated technology.
D Statement of the activities that took place within the United States.
D Abstract (350 words or fewer); an executive summary is no longer required.
D Detailed description of how the nominated technology meets the scope of
the program and the selection criteria.
Note: EPA requires only an electronic copy of each nomination; it no longer
requires a hard copy.
'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 sub-
stances, pollutants, or contaminants."
2A small business is defined here as one with annual sales of less than $40 million, including all domestic
and foreign sales by the company, its subsidiaries, and its parent company.
!TSCA is the Toxic Substances Control Act; FIFRA is the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act.
4FFDCA is the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
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w
Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper with a minimum 50% post-consumer waste using vegetable inks.
Office of Pollution 744K09003
Prevention and August 2009
Toxics (7406M) www.epa.gov
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