July 2006

Technology for a Sustainable Environment Grant Program:

A Decade of Innovation
A Decade of Innovation

Technology for a Sustainable Environment Grant Program:
I

Contents

 Preface II

 Program Overview 1

 Technology for A Sustainable Environment Program Success Stories 7

 Technology for A Sustainable Environment Program Reach and Relevance 15

 Links to Additional Information 21

 References 22
II

Sustainability has many definitions, but its underlying concept remains the same: balancing environmental protection and social responsibility with a healthy economy over time. 

This concept of sustainability inspires public and private organizations to become better stewards 

of the environment. Green engineering and chemistry play an important role in creating the 

options that enable sustainability by developing chemicals, processes, products, and systems that 

are environmentally preferable, more energy- and resource-efficient, and often more cost-effective. 

These fields have grown and matured through the support of the Technology for a Sustainable 

Environment (TSE) grant program. Established 10 years ago and funded jointly by the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), the program 

has invested over $50 million in innovative interdisciplinary research in green chemistry, green 

engineering, and industrial ecology at universities throughout the U.S. In addition to building 

fundamental knowledge, this 

investment has paid off with 

environmental, economic, and 

societal benefits. It has led to new 

practices in industry and reshaped 

academic curricula.

This report describes the TSE 

program—its goals, history, benefits, 

and performance. Seven grant 

“success stories” are presented 

to illustrate the breadth of the 

program and how it has supported 

researchers with novel ideas and 

produced groundbreaking results. 

Preface

Pollution Prevention Supports Sustainability

Sustainability cannot be achieved without innovations in 

pollution prevention—the reduction or elimination of pollutants at the source. The optimal way to prevent pollution is by 

eliminating the production of waste altogether. When this is not 

possible, reuse, recycling, and treatment are all better alternatives to direct disposal. 

In the success stories presented in this report, Dr. DeSimone’s 

carbon dioxide-based solvents prevent pollution by replacing 

toxic solvents, Dr. Wool’s hurricane-resistant housing made 

from recycled newspapers reuses waste products, and Dr. 

Thomas’ research into tracking waste aims to increase recycling efficiency. 

Least 

Preferred

Most 

Preferred

Pollution Prevention Hierarchy
1

The Technology for a Sustainable Environment (TSE) 

program has fundamentally 

reshaped the research 

infrastructure in the fields of 

chemistry and engineering by 

promoting green practices, 

nurturing young scientists and 

engineers, and supporting new 

collaborations among established researchers and industry. 

The program has funded 

research that develops green 

chemistry, green engineering, 

and industrial ecology. The 

TSE program was designed 

to cultivate science and 

engineering that use energy and 

materials more efficiently, and 

it promotes the discovery and 

implementation of innovative 

and environmentally preferable 

processes and materials that 

are functionally equivalent and 

cost-competitive. 

The TSE program was initiated 

in 1994 when EPA’s National 

Center for Environmental 

Research (NCER) entered into 

a partnership with the National 

Science Foundation (NSF) 

to fund pollution prevention 

research. Over the next 10 

years, EPA and NSF awarded 

tens of millions of dollars in the 

form of grants for fundamental 

and applied research under the 

TSE program. The partnership 

capitalized on both organizations’ strengths for soliciting, 

competitively awarding, 

and managing high-quality, 

peer-reviewed environmental 

research. NSF’s focus on basic 

research has balanced EPA’s 

focus on solutions to environmental problems.

The partnership also brought 

together a diverse team of EPA 

and NSF technical staff to 

shape the program. As a result, 

the TSE program significantly 

expanded federal support for 

innovative research in this area.

Characteristics of the 

TSE Program

Through 2006, EPA and NSF 

awarded over $57 million for 

205 research projects under 

the TSE program (NSF, $30.9; 

EPA, $26.8). Awards averaged 

approximately $120,000 per 

year, typically for a period of 

two to three years. Exhibits 

1 and 2 show the number of 

TSE grants per year and the 

program’s historical funding 

levels, respectively. 

Program Overview

“Green chemistry and engineering are critical components of a 

comprehensive approach to manufacturing – an approach that 

considers not just the desired product, but the feedstocks, energy 

costs, purification procedures, and environmental impact associated 

with making the product.”

 — Arden Bement, Director, National Science Foundation
2

Funded projects address 

technological issues of design, 

synthesis, processing, and the 

production, use, and ultimate 

disposal of products. Exhibit 

3 provides an overview of the 

major areas of research funded 

by TSE grants, with examples 

of specific grants, although 

many grants fit under several 

categories. The program’s scope 

broadened over time such that 

the number of specific research 

topics increased, though the 

major areas remained consistent.

The TSE program encouraged 

interdisciplinary approaches. 

Research teams came from a 

wide range of scientific fields, 

including environmental 

sciences, engineering, chemistry, 

microbiology, materials science, 

and social sciences. The grants 

supported pioneering changes 

in research infrastructure 

through new collaborations 

across technical disciplines and 

organizations. Research and 

development for a sustainable 

future often requires analysis 

Exhibit 1. Number of TSE Grants Awarded by Year 

Exhibit 2. TSE Grant Funding Awarded by Year
3

Exhibit 3. TSE Research Areas and Grant Examples

Solvents

Many solvents used throughout the manufacturing industry are highly toxic, and their inadvertent release 

into the environment can harm the health of wildlife and humans. Dr. Joseph DeSimone’s research into 

alternative carbon dioxide-based solvents is summarized on pages 7-8 of this report.

Process 

The electroplating industry creates a very large volume of chemical waste each year. While waste minimization techniques have been available for some time, they have not been well characterized in terms of 

cost and efficiency. At Wayne State University, Dr. Yinlun Huang is using artificial intelligence techniques 

to develop an intelligent decision support system that can suggest techniques for waste minimization 

in electroplating plants of any size. This TSE-funded research has developed four pollution prevention 

technologies that reduce chemical solvent use and wastewater by 15 percent. Dr. Huang also found that 

the electroplating industry and local governments were supportive and receptive to these technologies. 

Bioengineering

There is a growing need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels with renewable resources, which help 

diversify the energy portfolio to ensure a constant energy supply even during times of crisis. Dr. Nancy 

Ho at Purdue University received a TSE grant to further develop a yeast-based ethanol synthesis process. 

Dr. Ho has genetically engineered or “bioengineered” yeast to more efficiently convert plant material into 

ethanol, an environmentally friendly alternative transport fuel that can be used directly or blended with 

gasoline. The use of ethanol has the further advantage of reducing dependency on foreign sources of oil, 

thus protecting the nation’s energy security and reducing the trade deficit caused by importing oil. 

Chemical 

Improvements

The pulp and paper industry uses organic solvents to remove lignin, the color-causing substance in wood, 

from paper. The use of these solvents can result in the production of toxic dioxins. Dr. Robin Rogers of the 

University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa received a TSE grant to develop an environmentally benign water-based 

system for the removal of lignin. Dr. Rogers’ new process more efficiently removes color from pulp 

without the use of organic solvents, thus eliminating the production of dioxins and reducing the sulfur 

content of paper, making both the process and the product more environmentally friendly. 

Green Design 

and 

Industrial Ecology

Green design and industrial ecology aim to manage the environmental impact of an industry using a 

systems approach in which the acquisition, use, and disposal of water, energy, and materials and the 

relationships among them are documented, evaluated, and optimized. Dr. David Dornfeld at the University 

of California-Berkeley received a TSE grant to develop a comprehensive tool to assess the environmental 

impacts of semiconductor manufacturing. The aim of Dr. Dornfeld’s research is to find new ways to 

mitigate negative impacts and to inform environmental decision making with information about environment and health impacts resulting from different industry practices. 

Catalysis

Catalysis refers to chemical processes that use catalysts to transform chemicals into other useful 

products or intermediates. Catalysts facilitate the reactions but are not consumed by them. Research to 

improve the selectivity and efficiency of catalysts is important to pollution prevention because certain 

traditional catalysts produce toxic byproducts. The research of Dr. Terry Collins, summarized on pages 

12-14, demonstrates how alternative catalysts can be developed to increase efficiency and decrease 

environmental impacts of manufacturing processes. 

Renewable 

Resources

The use of renewable resources promotes a sustainable production system. New technologies that rely on 

waste products as a source of raw material help reduce impacts on the environment. Dr. Richard Wool’s 

TSE-sponsored research on high performance composites made from chicken feathers and recycled 

newspapers is summarized on pages 9-10.

Fuels and Energy

The burning of fossil fuels produces noxious gases such as sulfur oxides, which contribute to acid rain. 

Conventional sulfur-removal technology is not able to easily reduce fuel sulfur levels to EPA standards. 

Dr. Chunshan Song and colleagues at Pennsylvania State University received a TSE grant to develop a new 

process that will efficiently remove the sulfur. The process under development is able to more selectively 

remove sulfur compounds under ambient temperatures and pressures, thus reducing the cost and energy 

of sulfur removal.
4

of technical information and 

complex phenomena over large 

spatial and temporal domains. 

Multi-disciplinary research 

teams like the ones funded by 

the TSE program often find it 

difficult to obtain funding from 

narrower scientific research 

programs. TSE-supported 

projects tend to be characterized as “on the cutting edge” or 

“high-risk/high-payoff.” With 

its broader science-societal 

perspective, the TSE program 

has supported innovative, 

problem-solving research. 

Geographically, TSE investigators are located in 30 states 

across the United States, with 

the highest number of grants 

in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and 

Georgia. The distribution of 

grants is shown in Exhibit 4.

TSE grants were awarded 

competitively to fund high 

quality science that meets 

the research solicitation’s 

goals. The grant applications 

were evaluated through a 

rigorous merit review process. 

The selectivity of the grant 

program was high, with about 

15 percent of the applicants 

receiving grants in the last two 

solicitations. 

Applicants were encouraged 

to seek project collaboration 

with industrial partners on 

fundamental research issues 

that link basic and applied 

aspects of pollution prevention. 

In some cases, state government 

agencies or other professional 

organizations also collaborated. 

One NSF research priority 

that has helped shape the TSE 

program is the focus on training 

and education of junior scientists 

and engineers in academia. 

Projects that provide both 

graduate and undergraduate 

students with experience in 

research, interdisciplinary 

educational activities, and 

student teamwork are strongly 

encouraged. 

Benefits 

TSE program goals have been 

focused on improving three 

interconnected areas: the 

environment, the economy, and 

society (see Exhibit 5). Often 

the TSE-supported research 

leads to technologies that provide 

better overall performance 

at lower costs. In addition to 

protecting the environment, 

they require researchers to 

consider a different set of design 

constraints, thus stimulating 

innovation that would not have 

happened otherwise.

Exhibit 4. Location of TSE Grantees in the U.S. 

TSE grantees Dr. Richard 

Wool and Dr. Terry Collins 

noted that the TSE program’s 

competitiveness and peer 

review standards results 

in high quality science that 

is more likely to achieve 

buy-in from future industrial 

partners. “My best research 

came from my TSE grants,” 

said Dr. Wool.
5

In addition to these benefits, the 

TSE program has all of the standard indicators of a successful 

research and technology program, 

including the following:

Peer reviewed publications that 

are the main mechanism by 

which scientific findings and 

advancements are documented 

and disseminated to society; 

Patents that are an important 

step in the lifecycle of a new 

technology leading to licensing 

agreements and commercialization; and

Industry collaborations that 

enable a new process to be 

implemented or a new product 

to be commercialized more 

quickly than if there were no 

formal connection between 

researcher and industry.

Equally important to the 

program’s success are the 

student researchers who 

have contributed significantly 

to the development of new 

technologies. Portions of TSE 

grants funded graduate student 

research that enabled these 

individuals to achieve higher 

degrees, contributing to a more 

highly educated workforce. 

Many of them go on to work 

for industry and government, 

bringing an awareness of and 

interest in sustainability. 

“The goals of green chemistry and engineering move us towards 

innovation and collaboration for the mutual benefit of human health 

and the environment while furthering economic competitiveness.” 

 — Dr. Paul Gilman, Former Assistant Administrator for 

Research and Development and Science Advisor, U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency

Exhibit 5. TSE Program Benefits

Environmental Benefits

 • Reduced use of water, especially in manufacturing processes

 • Reduced use of energy in manufacturing processes, businesses, and homes

 • Reduced use, generation, and release of hazardous chemicals

 • Reduced release of greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants to the air

 • Reduced release of pollutants to water

 • Reduced generation of waste through pollution prevention strategies

Economic Benefits

 • Cost savings derived from decreased energy and other resource consumption

 • Cost savings associated with reducing hazardous materials procurement, 

handling, transportation, disposal, and compliance concerns

 • Cost savings from reduced liability

 • Competitive advantages from improved product/process performance, improved 

efficiency, and consumer preferences

 • New businesses and new jobs

 • Lucrative products created from renewable resources produced in the United States

Societal Benefits

 • Reduction in public health risks from chemical emissions, releases, and accidents

 • Minimization of hazardous materials that require transportation and security efforts

 • Safer working environments for industrial employees

 • Education and inspiration of new generations of scientists and business leaders 

who are highly educated and are trained to find sustainable solutions

 • Decreased frequency of litigation and associated societal costs
6

The TSE program has provided 

many environmental, economic, 

and societal benefits. In the 

section that follows, TSE grant 

“success stories” illustrate in 

greater detail examples of the 

program’s benefits and progress 

made toward sustainability.
7

TSE Program Success Stories

The seven TSE research 

projects described in this 

section reflect a wide range of 

challenges to environmental 

sustainability that are countered 

using cutting-edge technologies 

and practices. These success 

stories describe research at 

various stages of completion and at different points 

in their progression from 

research and development 

to commercialization; these 

stages are depicted in the 

continuum in Exhibit 6. Several 

technologies resulting from 

grants funded in the earliest 

years of the TSE program have 

been implemented in industrial 

applications. Other research 

projects described here are in 

earlier stages of the research 

and development cycle. 

Replacing Toxic Solvents with 

Carbon Dioxide

Organic solvents, such as 

perchloroethylene (perc), are 

used in hundreds of industrial 

processes ranging from manufacturing Teflon to developing 

film. Some of these solvents are 

highly toxic or can break down 

into ozone-depleting gases, and 

some processes contaminate 

billions of gallons of wastewater. Given these detrimental 

environmental impacts, the 

TSE program funded research 

to identify alternatives to 

organic solvent-based processes. 

Dr. Joseph DeSimone from the 

University of North Carolina at 

Chapel Hill received a TSE grant 

from EPA in 1997 to develop 

carbon dioxide-based solvents. 

His previous research had shown 

that carbon dioxide (CO2) in its 

liquid and supercritical states is 

an excellent environmentally 

Exhibit 6. The Technology Continuum 

Research is the first in a series of phases necessary for a new technology to achieve full-scale 

implementation and realization of its benefits. The rate at which technologies progress to commercialization varies and is dependent on factors beyond the quality of the science. Ten years is the 

typical timeframe for new pollution prevention technologies to achieve commercialization.1
8

benign alternative solvent to 

chlorofluorocarbons dissolved 

in water. Under the TSE grant, 

Dr. DeSimone and his collaborators developed detergent-like 

“surfactants” that allow CO2 to 

dissolve substances that would 

not normally be soluble. One 

of the consumer applications 

of this research is an alternative dry cleaning solution that 

replaces perchloroethylene. 

This detergent system is now 

used in more than 100 dry 

cleaning establishments in over 

12 states.

A follow-up grant to Dr. 

DeSimone in 2001 allowed 

him to extend this solvent 

research into applications 

for the microelectronics 

industries. To produce a single 

computer chip, conventional 

lithography techniques use one 

kilogram of organic solvent and 

aqueous waste. The CO2-based 

process that Dr. DeSimone is 

developing to produce these 

multi-layer integrated circuits 

is environmentally benign, 

ensuring that this and other 

future manufacturing processes 

have minimal impact on the 

environment. The technology 

also provides solutions to some 

of the challenges associated 

with traditional water-based 

processes, such as achieving film 

uniformity while spin-coating 

wafers.

In addition to his TSE research, 

Dr. Simone co-founded 

MiCELL Technologies, a 

start-up company committed 

to developing and marketing 

carbon dioxide-based technologies. MiCELL currently owns 

or has licensing rights to 77 

patents in the United States, 

with an additional eight applications pending.

Dr. DeSimone was appointed 

the director of the National 

Science Foundation’s Science 

and Technology Center for 

Environmentally Responsible 

Solvents and Processes. In early 

2005, he was elected into the 

National Academy of Arts and 

Sciences and into the National 

Academy of Engineering as its 

youngest member. 

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• Fourteen articles published

• Several patents for carbon 

dioxide-based solvents, 

including those for dry 

cleaning and circuit board 

coating

• Four industrial partners: 

The BOC Group, SCF 

Consortium, DuPont, 

Stockhalven

• One start-up company: 

MiCELL Technologies

• Seven collaborating 

institutions, including: 

Georgia Institute of 

Technology, North Carolina 

State University, North 

Carolina A&T University, 

University of Texas, Austin, 

the Triangle National 

Lithography Center, Sandia 

National Laboratory, Oak 

Ridge National Laboratory

ABOUT PERC:

• 136 million kg used by 

dry cleaners per year 

• 130 million kg released 

into the environment each 

year

• 90% lost directly to the 

atmosphere, 10% enters 

water supply

• If 50% of dry cleaners 

switched to CO2-based 

solvents, 68 million kg

would be eliminated

• This would substantially 

reduce the exposure to 

perc via inhalation
9

From Soybeans, Chicken 

Feathers, and Newspapers to 

High-Performance Composites 

and Resins

Dr. Richard Wool at the University 

of Delaware is using plant oils 

and waste products to develop 

the world’s cheapest composites and resins. From tractor 

parts made with soybean-based 

plastics to circuit board material produced using chicken 

feathers, to hurricane-resistant 

roofing fashioned from recycled 

newspaper, Dr. Wool has made 

use of renewable, biologically 

based materials to create environmentally friendly products. 

Because of the low cost of 

plant oil (10 to 15 cents per 

pound) and natural fibers, these 

technology breakthroughs are 

increasing the available options 

for manufacturers and making 

sustainable living a reality.

Dr. Wool received a TSE grant 

from EPA in January 2002 

to study fundamental issues 

pertaining to the cost-effective 

synthesis and manufacture of 

plant-based resins and composites. These biologically based 

materials provide alternatives to 

petroleum-derived plastics. As 

a direct result of this research, 

Dr. Wool helped develop a new 

universal theory of fracture 

polymers, applied for five 

patents, and collaborated with 

nine industrial partners. 

Currently, the John Deere 

Company uses Dr. Wool’s 

soybean oil plastics to manufacture parts for its tractors, 

and his chicken feather circuit 

board material has attracted the 

interest of Intel. Additionally, 

Dr. Wool’s hurricane-resistant 

roofing received attention from 

the news media and architecture 

societies including Newsweek, 

Architectural Record, and the 

RIBA Journal (the magazine of 

the Royal Institute of British 

Architects). The roofing is 

built primarily from recycled 

newspaper, chicken feathers, 

and soybean-derived plastics 

that are processed into a single, 

specially fitted lightweight 

roof. Its storm-resistant design 

could greatly reduce the 

millions of dollars of damage 

to homes in regions affected 

by hurricanes. In addition to 

the safety factor, its foam-core 

engineered structure imparts 

huge thermal energy savings, a 

benefit to both the environment 

and consumers. This roofing 

has the potential to become 

the country’s highest-volume 

application of bio-based 

composite materials derived 

from low-cost, environmentally 

friendly, renewable resources. 

These biologically based 

composite materials could 

make a considerable positive 

impact on the environment. If 

they are commercialized and 

produced in large quantities, 

each pound of plant or beans 

used would save about a pound 

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• Twenty-one articles and 

two books published

• Two patents received and 

three pending

• Soybean oil plastics used 

to manufacture parts for 

tractors

• Using soybean-based 

plastics could reduce 

carbon dioxide emissions 

by 300 billion pounds per 

year

• Nine industrial partners, 

including: 3M, Avery 

Denison, Cytek Corp 

(formerly UCB Radcure 

Corp), Diab, Doc Resins, 

Georgia Pacific, Nike, 

Rome & Haas, Westvaco

• Four collaborating institutions, including: Colorado 

State, Howard University, 

Georgia Tech, Michigan 

State University

• Ten undergraduate and 

four graduate students 

supported

• New course developed on 

“Green Engineering”
10

of fossil fuel. In addition, the 

substitution of 10 billion kilos 

of soybean-based products for 

fossil fuel-based plastics would 

be equivalent to reducing 

carbon dioxide emissions by 

300 billion pounds per year. 

This research extends into 

the classroom, furthering its 

impact by educating the next 

generation of green chemistry 

and engineering researchers. 

The TSE grant provided partial 

funding for four graduate and 

ten undergraduate students to 

train with Dr. Wool, and many 

of these students have gone on 

to careers in environmentally 

related research. To promote 

both the growing interest from 

students and the growing need 

from industry, Dr. Wool also 

developed a course on green 

engineering for undergraduates 

at the University of Delaware.

Streamlining Waste 

Management with Electronic 

Tags for Trash 

Dr. Valerie Thomas at Princeton 

University received a TSE grant 

from EPA in 2002 to develop 

electronic tags that could be 

used to monitor waste and 

recycling. Her work aims to 

increase recycling efficiency by 

using information technology 

solutions for identification and 

sorting. 

There is currently no system in 

place to track non-hazardous 

waste and recyclables as they 

move through the waste 

management system in the 

United States. Dr. Thomas’ 

research examines the 

options that are available for 

implementing such a system, 

focusing on the feasibility of 

different technologies such 

as barcodes, radio frequency 

identification (RFID) tags, and 

global positioning system (GPS) 

transmitters. Such systems 

potentially could track a 

product throughout its lifecycle 

while feeding back important 

data on product distribution, 

consumption, use, disposal, 

and recycling. Identification 

of products also will make 

recycling easier and cheaper, 

allowing a larger recovery of 

economic value from the waste 

stream. 

Dr. Thomas collaborated with 

Motorola to develop a working 

prototype barcode system to 

aid in recycling Motorola cell 

phones. With Princeton undergraduate student Steven Saar, 

Dr. Thomas developed Webbased software that recognizes 

the scanned barcode on a 

Motorola phone and provides 

disassembly instructions for 

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• Six articles published 

• One intellectual property 

disclosure

• Three industrial partners, 

including: Motorola, MOBA 

Mobile Automation, OxLoc

• Three new employment 

opportunities with: 

Intel, New Jersey 

Congressman Rush Holt, 

Georgia Tech 

• One undergraduate and 

one graduate student 

supported

“My work with Dr. Valerie Thomas has had a profound influence on 

my current research interests and my future career. I think of Dr. 

Thomas as my mentor, especially at this juncture in my career where 

I am exploring my interests and future career after graduate school. 

She has encouraged me to apply my scientific background to a 

career in environmental and public policy.” 2

 — Audrey Lee, Ph.D. candidate in Electrical Engineering, 

Princeton University
11

that particular model. The software has not been patented in 

order to promote development 

of similar waste management 

systems, but Motorola wrote an 

intellectual property disclosure 

naming Dr. Thomas, Saar, and a 

collaborator at Motorola as the 

developers of the technology. 

Saar’s work on the barcodetracking software for Motorola 

helped secure him a job with 

Intel after he graduated in 

2004. Audrey Lee, a Ph.D. 

graduate student in electrical 

engineering, won a Student 

Paper Award in May 2004 from 

the Institute for Electronic 

and Electrical Engineers for 

a paper she and Dr. Thomas 

wrote using the findings from 

the TSE grant. Lee’s work with 

Dr. Thomas on electronic tags 

allowed her to redirect her 

thesis toward environmentally 

relevant issues. 

Also as a result of this research, 

funded almost entirely by the 

TSE grant, Dr. Thomas was 

able to win a competitive position working on energy policy as 

Congressional Science Fellow to 

New Jersey Congressman Rush 

Holt and to secure a position at 

the Georgia Institute of Technology. There, she will continue 

to develop a practical method 

of labeling waste and recycling 

products for use in U.S. towns 

and cities. 

New Technique Reduces 

Foundry VOC Emissions

Dr. Fred Cannon and his team 

from the University of Pennsylvania are studying an advanced 

oxidation (AO) process that can 

be used to prevent pollution 

from foundries. Dr. Cannon 

received a TSE grant from EPA 

in 2002 to study and improve 

the AO process based on data 

from five full-scale foundries 

where the new technique 

is in use. The metal casting 

industry represents a significant 

manufacturing sector of the 

U.S. economy, with approximately 3,000 foundries across 

the country. The AO process 

is applicable to foundries 

that use green sand molds, 

which includes 60 percent 

of foundries in the U.S. The 

new process has been shown 

to greatly reduce the emission 

of hazardous air pollutants 

from the foundries where it is 

installed, including toxic volatile 

organic compounds (VOCs), 

benzene, and carbon monoxide. 

Dr. Cannon and his team have 

demonstrated reductions in 

VOC emissions ranging from 

20 to 75 percent at the five 

foundries where the process is 

currently installed and predict 

that it can be improved to 

consistently reduce up to 80 

percent of emissions. Using 

this as an estimate of potential 

pollution reduction, this process 

alone could reduce over 2.5 

million pounds of VOCs each 

year. 

In addition to this environmental benefit, the process is 

more efficient and thus more 

economically profitable. The AO 

process has reduced the amount 

of clay, coal, and sand required 

for casting by up to 40 percent 

and decreased the number of 

casting defects by 35 percent. 

Lead-Free Molecular Wires for 

Household Electronics

Dr. C.P. Wong from the Georgia 

Institute of Technology received 

a TSE grant from EPA in 

December 2003 to develop a 

substitute for leaded solder, 

which is used broadly in the 

electronics industry. Lead is 

recognized as a carcinogen, 

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• Six articles published 

• One book published

• Five full-scale foundries 

employ the new process

• Up to 75 percent reduction

in VOC emissions at the 

five foundries where 

process is currently 

installed

• $10 million savings at 

one foundry
12

a developmental toxicant, a 

reproductive toxicant, and is 

suspected to be a neurological 

toxicant. Its use in household 

electronics, such as computers, 

personal digital assistants 

(PDAs), and cell phones, has 

attracted scrutiny from regulatory agencies in Europe and 

Japan. 

To date, most substitutes 

developed for leaded solder 

have been alloys that combine 

tin with metals such as silver, 

gold, copper, bismuth, or 

antimony. These have the 

disadvantage of higher manufacturing temperatures (up to 260 

degrees Celsius), which necessitates higher energy costs and 

more expensive circuit board 

materials. With the assistance 

of graduate students Grace Yi 

Li and Kyoung-sik Moon, Dr. 

Wong is developing electrically 

conductive adhesives (ECAs) 

that are much better substitutes 

for leaded solder. 

In addition to the benefits of 

reduced lead use, ECAs could 

simplify electronics manufacture by eliminating several 

processing steps. Because the 

ECAs can be cured at lower 

temperatures—about 150 

degrees Celsius and potentially 

even room temperature—they 

would produce less thermal 

stress on components, require 

less energy, and enable the 

use of existing circuit board 

materials.3

 If all of the current 

tin-lead solder in the U.S. were 

replaced with ECAs, energy 

savings for electronics manufacturing could be as much as 

60 percent and the short-term 

consumption of lead potentially 

could drop by as much as 10 

percent.

To overcome one of the main 

challenges of lead-free ECAs 

(the lower density of the 

electrical current, which is 

not adequate for many powerintensive devices), Dr. Wong 

and his collaborators developed 

self-assembled monolayers 

(SAM). SAM structures are 

molecular wires made of an 

organic polymer matrix that 

provide a direct electrical 

connection, bypassing resistance 

normally found at an interface. 

Georgia Institute of Technology 

has applied for patents on the 

SAM and is pursuing licensing 

of the technology with several 

companies.

Green Oxidation Catalysis

New and improved catalysts 

enable important chemical 

reactions to be conducted 

under milder conditions, with 

less energy expenditure, in a 

shorter time, using less reactive 

and more environmentally 

friendly chemicals and solvents. 

A TSE grant from NSF to Dr. 

Terry Collins of Carnegie Mellon 

University in 1996 led to the 

development of environmentally 

friendly oxidant activators. Dr. 

Collins won the 1999 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge 

Award for this research. 

In the paper manufacturing 

process, the newly developed 

activators catalyze the oxidizing 

ability of hydrogen peroxide, 

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ten articles published, 

with additional five 

submitted or in preparation

• Five invention disclosures 

and two patents pending

• Pursuing licensing of 

the ECA technology with 

several companies

• Up to 60 percent energy 

savings in electronics 

manufacturing by 

replacing leaded solder

• Two graduate students 

trained

• Two companies pursuing 

licensing of technology: 

Indium Corporation of 

America and Ablestik, 

a National Starch and 

Chemical Company
13

creating water and oxygen as 

byproducts of the bleaching 

process. The older methods 

relied on elemental chlorinebased catalysts and produced 

toxic dioxins that are known 

to accumulate and persist in 

the tissues of humans and 

animals. One of the alternative 

methods uses chlorine dioxide, 

which reduces dioxin emissions significantly but does not 

eliminate them. 

The environmental benefits 

of the newly developed iron 

(III)-tetra-amidato macrocyclic 

ligand (or TAML) activators in 

paper manufacturing go beyond 

eliminating dioxin emissions 

and reducing wastewater 

production. First, TAML 

bleaching is more effective, 

leaving behind only a third of 

the lignin (the color-causing 

compound) of traditional 

bleaching methods. It also 

works most efficiently at lower 

temperatures, and the estimated savings from this benefit 

alone have been calculated at 

23.2 million tons of coal per 

year if 100 percent of paper 

mills in the U.S. used the 

TAML activators.4

 This paper 

bleaching technology has been 

patented, and license agreements for commercialization 

already are in place.

TAML oxidant activators also 

can be used for fuel desulfurization, easily removing more than 

85 percent of recalcitrant sulfur 

compounds in refined fuels. 

Sulfur is associated with human 

health impacts, contributes to 

acid rain, and causes engines to 

burn less efficiently. The application of these activators in the 

fuel refining process could lead 

to cleaner fuels that have higher 

efficiency. 

The laundry industry has also 

benefited from Dr. Collins’s 

activators. TAML-activated 

peroxide in household bleaches 

provides the most attractive 

dye-transfer inhibition and 

improved stain removal properties. The TAML-peroxide 

activators used in this process 

require less water than traditional processes offering both 

economic and environmental 

benefits. Dr. Collins and other 

researchers continue to develop 

additional uses for the TAML 

activators including water 

disinfection, degradation of 

persistent organic pollutants, 

and homeland security.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eighteen articles published

• Ten U.S. patents received, 

additional patents received 

in 25 other countries, and 

license agreements for 

commercialization of paper 

bleaching technology in 

place

• 23.2 million tons of coal 

could be saved in energy 

costs per year with TAML 

bleaching methods

• One industrial partner: 

PAPRO New Zealand

• Six collaborating institutions, including: National 

Energy Technology Laboratory at the Department 

of Energy, Naval Surface 

Warfare Center at the 

Department of Defense, 

University of Auckland, 

Osaka City University, GSF 

Munich, the Pittsburgh 

Department of Energy

Potential applications of 

TAML oxidant activators

• Paper bleaching

• Fuel desulfurization

• Laundry detergents

• Pesticide detoxification

• Drinking water disinfection

• Anthrax decontamination

• Chemical warfare agent 

decontamination

• Textile mill effluent cleanup
14

Growing Plastics from Plants

Polylactides (PLAs) are fully 

biodegradable, completely 

recyclable plastics derived 

entirely from a widely available 

and renewable resource: corn. 

Dr. John Dorgan at the Colorado 

School of Mines received a TSE 

grant from EPA in 1998 that 

helped fund the development 

of PLAs. Unlike traditional 

plastics, which are made from 

non-renewable fossil fuel 

feedstocks, PLA plastics are 

produced by the fermentation 

of corn. This process uses 30 to 

50 percent less fossil resources 

and results in 50 to 70 percent 

lower carbon dioxide emissions 

than the typical polyethylene 

and nylon manufacturing 

processes for plastics. The 

production process also uses 

internal recycling to eliminate 

waste, preventing pollution 

at the source and resulting in 

greater than 95 percent yields. 

Dr. Dorgan’s TSE grant, which 

was matched with financial 

support from Cargill-Dow, 

funded the research necessary 

to establish a fundamental 

scientific understanding of the 

properties of PLAs. CargillDow now produces 300 million 

pounds of PLA each year at 

the word’s first global-scale 

manufacturing facility capable 

of making commercial-grade 

plastic resins from an annually 

renewable resource. The plant 

in Blair, Nebraska, employs 

close to 100 people and sells 

its biodegradable plastics to 

companies all over the world. 

Some of the everyday products 

made from PLA plastics include 

blister packs, floral wraps, tray 

inserts, and window films. A 

number of companies, including 

Wal-Mart and Del Monte, now 

use PLA for food packaging.

Dr. Dorgan and his colleagues 

characterized the basic chain 

properties of the PLAs, studied 

the plastic’s permeability 

to gases important to the 

packaging and food industries, 

developed a strengthened 

plastic that combines PLA 

with a secondary biodegradable 

plastic, and created a software 

simulation package which can 

help facilitate the change-over 

from the manufacture of 

traditional plastics to PLA 

plastics. The research has 

even led to PLA-based fibers, 

developed in collaboration 

with industry, receiving Federal 

Trade Commission classification 

as a new generic fiber joining 

the ranks of cotton, wool, 

silk, nylon, and polyesters. 

Seventeen publications and 

two graduate degree projects in 

chemical engineering resulted 

from the research.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seventeen articles 

published

• 30 to 50 percent less 

fossil fuel resources 

needed to produce plastics 

from corn

• 50 to 70 percent reduction in carbon dioxide 

emissions in corn-based 

synthesis

• One industrial partner: 

Cargill-Dow

• 300 million pounds of the 

newly developed, fully 

biodegradable, completely 

recyclable plastics 

produced each year and 

distributed world-wide 

• Wal-Mart now uses PLA 

for fresh food packaging

• Two graduate students 

supported
15

In addition to the successes of 

the TSE program illustrated 

in the previous section, other 

indicators such as program 

relevance, research awards, and 

external evaluations contribute 

to a more complete description 

of what the program has accomplished. The TSE program is not 

currently being funded by either 

agency as results continue to be 

assessed. 

TSE Program Relevance to EPA 

and NSF Strategic Goals 

One measure of the success 

of the program to date is the 

extent to which it has supported 

EPA and NSF strategic goals. 

The TSE program has supported 

five of the goals in EPA’s 

2003-2008 EPA Strategic Plan: 

Direction for the Future.

6

 The 

TSE program also has assisted 

other EPA programs by funding 

research on innovative technologies for reducing emissions 

of air toxics from indoor, 

stationary, and area sources. 

Some examples are illustrated in 

Exhibit 7 on the following page. 

It has supported three aspects 

of NSF goals from their 2003-

2008 Strategic Plan5

 that pertain 

to people, ideas, and tools. TSE 

grants have provided new opportunities for students to become 

involved in green science 

research, promoting the development of a strong community 

of researchers for the future. 

Additionally, research funded 

under the TSE program results 

in the development of new ideas 

and tools on the cutting edges 

of science, engineering, and 

information technology. 

TSE Complements Regional Environmental Protection Programs

TSE’s goals and objectives complemented the work of many state 

and regional environmental protection programs. For example, the 

Massachusetts Office for Technical Assistance (OTA) for Toxics Use 

Reduction works with researchers and industry to bring pollution 

prevention innovations to commercialization. OTA worked with TSE 

grantee Terry Collins (see pages 12-14) to help develop industry 

connections, ensuring implementation of his new technology. They 

provided funding to develop Collins’ bench-scale model into a pilot 

unit that tested the TAML activator bleaching technology on an 

industrial scale. 

And similar to the TSE program, OTA has a strong commitment to 

both pollution prevention and education. Graduate students funded 

by OTA grants have worked extensively on developing the TAML 

bleaching technology, providing key support that are helping bring it 

to commercialization.

TSE Program Reach and Relevance
16

Exhibit 7. How the TSE Program Supports EPA’s Strategic Goals

Goal 1: Clean Air and Global Climate Change Supporting the Office of Air and Radiation

 1.1 Healthier Outdoor Air

TSE has funded research in many areas, including solvents and 

catalysis, that can lead to reductions in emissions of hazardous air 

pollutants through cleaner alternative manufacturing processes 

 1.5 Reduce Greenhouse Gas Intensity

Similar to Goal 1.1, the alternative reactions and manufacturing 

processes being developed by TSE funded researchers offer ways to 

avoid greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or through reduced 

energy consumption. Additionally, replacement of petroleum-based 

feedstocks with bio-based materials reduces CO2 emissions.

Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water Supporting the Office of Water

 2.2.1 Protect the Quality of Rivers, Lakes, and Streams

Alternative manufacturing processes developed with TSE support allow 

industries to greatly reduce the amount and decrease the concentration 

of pollutants in wastewater, thus protecting water bodies from pollution. 

Goal 3: Land Preservation and Restoration Supporting the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

 3.1 Reduce Waste and Increase Recycling

Every research project funded by TSE contributes to waste reduction. 

Many do so by decreasing the production of waste at the source, while 

others develop new ways to reuse and recycle waste products. 

Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems Supporting the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and 

Toxic Substances

 4.1 Prevent and Reduce Pesticide, Chemical, and 

Genetically Engineered Biological Organism 

Risks to Humans, Communities, and Ecosystems 

Risks to humans and the environment will be decreased thanks to 

alternative technologies developed under TSE funding. Environmentally 

benign chemicals can replace toxic solvents, thus decreasing the risks 

associated with their acquisition, use, transport, storage, and disposal. 

 4.3 Protect, Sustain, and Restore the Health of 

Natural Habitats and Ecosystems

By developing new processes and technologies to minimize the amount 

of waste and hazardous pollutants produced and released into the 

environment, TSE-funded researchers contribute to the protection of 

natural habitats and ecosystems. 

Goal 5: Compliance and Environmental Stewardship Supporting the Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation

 5.2 Improve Environmental Performance through 

Pollution Prevention and Innovation

New green technologies are helping to transform industries traditionally 

perceived as poor environmental performers into models of green 

manufacturing. 

 5.4 Enhance Science and Research Supporting 

Environmental Policies and Decisions on 

Compliance, Pollution Prevention, and Environmental Stewardship

TSE-funded research has helped make new low-impact processes and 

products accessible to industry. The availability of these technologies 

makes pollution prevention more cost-effective and can strengthen 

the case for developing new standards that are more protective of the 

environment. 
17

TSE Research Awards

Another measure that demonstrates the quality of TSEfunded research is the merit 

awards given to investigators. 

Prestigious awards won by TSE 

grantees include the following:

 • Presidential Green 

Chemistry Challenge 

Academic Award 

 • Presidential Award for 

Excellence in Science, 

Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring 

 • Carnegie Science Award for 

Excellence

 • Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar 

Award

 • Scientific American’s

50 Most Influential 

Researchers

 • R&D 100 Award from R&D 

Magazine

The Presidential Green 

Chemistry Challenge Academic 

Award has been won by seven 

TSE researchers. Sponsored 

by EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 

Substances, the award recognizes individuals, groups, and 

organizations for innovations 

in cleaner, cheaper, smarter 

chemistry. This award, first 

granted in 1996, is given annually. As shown in Exhibit 8, TSE 

grantees have been recognized 

with academic awards nearly 

every year since the awards 

program began. 

TSE Evaluation Panel Report

A panel of nine leading 

scientists from industry, 

academia, and professional 

societies met in May 2004 

to conduct an independent 

evaluation of the TSE program. 

The panel members included 

highly accomplished senior 

representatives from the 

American Institute of Chemical 

“A measure of the quality of investments made through NSF 

[funding] awards is that nearly all of the academic winners who 

have received the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge 

Award have been NSF-supported investigators. This award 

recognizes major contributions to green chemistry and engineering 

research that have significant societal impact.”

 — Arden Bement, Director, National Science Foundation

Exhibit 8. TSE-funded Investigators Who Have Won the Presidential Green Chemistry 

Challenge Academic Award7

Year TSE-funded Investigator Research that Received Award

1997 Joseph M. DeSimone, University of North Carolina at 

Chapel Hill (EPA) Design and application of surfactants for carbon dioxide

1998 John W. Frost, Michigan State University (EPA) Use of microbes as environmentally benign synthetic catalysts

1999 Terry Collins, Carnegie Mellon University (NSF, EPA) TAML oxidant activators: General activation of hydrogen 

peroxide for green chemistry

2001 Chao-Jun Li, Tulane University (EPA) Quasi-nature catalysis: Developing transition metal catalysis in 

air and water

2002 Eric Beckman, University of Pittsburgh (EPA, NSF) Design of non-fluorous, highly CO2-soluble materials

2004 Charles Eckert and Charles Liotta, Georgia Institute of 

Technology (NSF)

Benign tunable solvents coupling reaction and separation 

processes

2005 Robin Rogers, University of Alabama (EPA) A platform strategy using ionic liquids to dissolve and process 

cellulose for advanced new materials
18

Peer Reviewed Publications from TSE Are Among Those Most Highly Cited

Peer-reviewed publications are the most important means by which credible scientific information is 

transmitted to and used by other researchers, industry, and government. A random sampling of grantees 

showed the following:

 • As of August 2004, 91 EPA TSE grants produced a total of 372 publications.8

 • Each grant produces an average of 7.9 publications. 

 • Approximately 21 percent of these publications were “highly cited publications” according to ISI 

Essential Science Indicators criteria. 

 • Nearly one-third of the TSE publications were published in “very high-impact” journals—journals that 

are cited quickly after publication as monitored by ISI Journal Citation Reports.

For the three years for which data 

are available, there is an upward 

trend in publication rates for the 

TSE grants. The graph below shows 

that there was an average of 5.8 

publications per grant in 1995, 

increasing steadily to 13.3 publications per grant in 1999. 

As shown in the graph, the average 

citation rate for EPA TSE-funded 

publications is 7.76 citations 

per publication, which is above 

the average citation rates for the 

fields of engineering and materials 

science, and comparable to those 

for the field of chemistry. 

Peer-reviewed Publication Rate for TSE Grants by 

Year Awarded

Average Citation Rate* for TSE Publications 

Compared to Individual Fields 1996-2003
19

Engineers, Cameron University, 

DuPont, Ford Motor Company, 

Greenpoint Science, the Pacific 

Northwest National Laboratory, 

Polytechnic University, the 

University of Arizona, and the 

University of California at San 

Diego. Their expert review was 

based on historical background 

materials and presentations by 

and discussions with the TSE 

grantees and EPA and NSF 

officials.9

The findings from the evaluation include the following:

 • Outputs from TSE research 

have been of excellent 

quality, with numerous 

highly cited publications 

in highly respected, peerreviewed journals, and 

dozens of resulting patents.

 • The program’s approach 

has been appropriate and 

successful in the first years 

of research. 

 • EPA and NSF goals are 

clearly articulated and 

appropriate. 

 • Measurable outcomes are 

being produced, and EPA is 

developing a mechanism to 

track these results. 

The panel also recommended 

several strategies to improve 

the program. These recommendations included holding 

additional investigator meetings 

to foster interaction, collaboration, and dissemination of 

results to industry, EPA regions, 

states, and the pollution 

prevention community; and 

developing formal and informal 

outreach mechanisms to seek 

input and feedback about 

industry needs, program goals, 

priorities, and outcomes. For 

example, the TSE program 

could make presentations to the 

National Pollution Prevention 

Roundtable and other similar 

venues.

Additionally, the panel noted 

that as the program matures, it 

is essential to ensure that the 

goals and desired outcomes are 

clear and focused. The panel 

suggested that goals relate more 

directly to how the program can 

affect academic researchers, 

industry, the public, and policy 

makers in terms of the economy, 

environment, and society. 

TSE Program Provides a 

Foundation

Both EPA and NSF face a very 

different set of challenges today 

from those they faced a decade 

ago. Indeed, the challenges and 

approaches needed to meet 

them will change even further 

over the coming decades. It is 

important that future research 

programs anticipate and prepare 

for these changes. Future 

programs at both agencies 

could draw on a broad-scale 

understanding of technology 

and technology systems, while 

still supporting engineering and 

chemistry foundations. Key 

areas that could receive greater 

attention include:

 • Identifying gaps and leverage 

points in technology systems 

to help achieve sustainability 

outcomes at the broader 

systems level.

 • Increasing the focus on 

multi-disciplinary integration 

– adding to engineering and 

physical science knowledge 

by bringing in ideas and 

experts from other fields 

in the natural and social 

sciences.

 • Linking research and 

application by increasing 

communication and 

exchange between academia 

and industry and broadening 

to wider audiences.

“By fostering a sustainable research community, the TSE program 

is acting as a catalyst in redefining environmental science and 

bringing about a paradigm shift toward prevention that will benefit 

our environment, economy, and quality of life.” 

 — TSE Evaluation Panel Report
20

 • Understanding and 

measuring success by 

tracking long-term direct 

and indirect benefits from 

funded grants.

Future research in sustainability 

could improve understanding 

technology and technological 

systems more broadly in time 

and space. An economy-wide 

view of materials flow systems 

can help prioritize opportunities 

for pollution prevention and 

the efficient use of materials. 

This is particularly important 

for those materials that are 

potentially harmful to the 

environment or are used at high 

volumes. In addition, there is 

a need for development of the 

technologies themselves, and 

also for the broader systems 

understanding and tools to 

prioritize and select the technologies. Better understanding 

the multitude of socioeconomic 

factors that can influence the 

development and adoption of 

new technologies calls for more 

collaboration across disciplines 

and between scientist and 

engineers and decision-makers.

Over the past 15 years, EPA has 

broadened beyond the traditional command-and-control 

model of regulation to include 

other approaches—voluntary, 

incentive-based, and collaborative—to better achieve environmental results. 

Many EPA offices have begun to 

develop models and strategies 

for the future that re-examine 

fundamental approaches to 

carrying out their missions. 

For example, a recent Agency 

report on environmental stewardship sketches a vision that 

draws from an understanding 

of the multimedia nature of 

environmental protection; 

emphasizes pollution prevention over product lifecycles; 

emphasizes the substitution 

of environmentally preferable 

materials and chemicals; strives 

to inform the everyday decisions of individuals, companies, 

and government; and aims for 

sustainability outcomes. 10

Sustainability necessarily 

involves moving toward a shared 

future, requiring scientists, 

engineers, and social scientists to 

interact with each other and the 

public to refine their research 

questions and communicate 

their results. NSF’s increasing 

focus on interdisciplinary 

research has helped support 

researchers’ important collaborative role. TSE’s success thus far 

has shown NSF’s investment 

in enhancing the quality and 

productivity of science and 

engineering to be well-coupled 

to EPA’s goal of protecting the 

environment. 

The TSE grants program has 

focused on pollution prevention 

and on funding collaborative 

research that will lead to applied 

results, has served EPA well. 

The program’s results to date 

have contributed to EPA and 

NSF goals, while its design and 

focus mesh well with new ways 

of thinking, new research plans 

under development, and the 

new environmental challenges 

facing our society.
21

EPA’s “Homepage for TSE” web site including a database of grants funded is available at 

www.epa.gov/ncer/tse. 

NSF’s “Homepage for TSE” is available at 

www.nsf.gov/eng/tse/.

EPA’s “Sustainability” web site, at www.epa.gov/sustainability/, provides information and links to 

sustainability planning, practices, scientific tools and technology, progress measures, and new 

resources and opportunities.

EPA’s National Center for Environmental Research “Environmental Research Grant Program Site,” 

located at www.epa.gov/ncer/, provides additional access to a database of EPA’s TSE STAR grants. 

EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances homepage for the Presidential Green 

Chemistry Challenge is located at www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenchemistry/presgcc.html. 

Links to Additional Information 
22

1

 National Academies of Science. 2003. Reducing the Time from Basic Research to Innovation in 

the Chemical Sciences: A Workshop Report to the Chemical Sciences Roundtable. NAS Board on 

Chemical Sciences and Technology. Accessible at: www.nap.edu/books/0309087341/html. 

2

 Diaz, E., M. Hinton, and M. Stevenson. 2004. Examining the Technology for a Sustainable 

Environment Grant Program. Submitted to Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Washington, DC 

Project Center in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

3

 Georgia Institute of Technology. 2005. Replacing lead-based solder: Molecular wires and corrosion 

control boost performance of electrically conductive adhesives. Press release dated March 13, 

2005. Accessible at: gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/newsrelease/adhesive.htm.

4

 Collins, T. J., and S.W. Gordon-Wylie. 1989. A manganese(V)-oxo complex. J. Amer. Chem. Soc.

111: 4511-4513.

5

 National Science Foundation. 2003. National Science Foundation Strategic Plan: FY 2003 – 2008. 

Accessible at: www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04201/FY2003-2008.pdf.

6

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2003. 2003-2008 EPA Strategic Plan: Direction for the 

Future. Office of Planning, Analysis, and Accountability, Washington, DC. EPA-190-R-03-003. 

Accessible at: www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/2003sp.pdf.

7

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2006. Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award 

Winners. Accessible at: www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/past.html.

8

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2004. Bibliometrics analysis for TSE grant publications. 

August 24, 2004. Prepared by the Scientific Consulting Group, Inc., for the National Center for 

Environmental Research. Accessible at:

es.epa.gov/ncer/publications/ncer/tse_grants_highly_cited.html.

9

 TSE Program Evaluation Panel. 2004. EPA and NSF Technology for a Sustainable Environment 

Evaluation Meeting Report. Prepared by the Scientific Consulting Group, Inc., May 19, 2004.

10 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2005. Everyday Choices: Opportunities for Environmental 

Stewardship: A Report to the Administrator. Accessible at: epa.gov/innovation/pdf/rpt2admin.pdf.

References
A Decade of Innovation

Technology for a Sustainable Environment Grant Program:
Office of Research and Development (8101R)

Washington, DC 20460

EPA/600/S-06/004

July 2006

www.epa.gov

Recycled/Recyclable

Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper 

(Minimum 50% Postconsumer) Process Chlorine Free