Chemical Engineering-Related Innovations Created by Purdue University Researchers

Purdue University researchers have developed several innovations in the chemical engineering field. There are more than 130 in the chemical engineering category available to bring to market through licensing or other commercial agreements with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization.

Here are five:

1. Converting Mixed Plastic Waste into Liquid Transportation Fuels, 2020-WANG-69107
   Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new integrated continuous reaction and separation process (ITCS) for converting mixed plastic waste into liquid transportation fuels. The total amount of energy savings from ITCS for plastic recycling is found to be 68-72% over current technology and a 72-75% energy savings is found over producing liquid fuels from crude oil.
2. Erasable and Curable Ink and Ink Delivery Device, 2015-BOUD-67023
   Researchers at Purdue University have developed an ink formulation that allows the ink to be erased for a given period of time, which is tunable based on the ink composition. Furthermore, this ink contains carbon black, which makes it readable by automated standardized testing scanners. As a result, this ink formulation could act as a drop-in replacement for No. 2 pencils and other commonly used marking instruments with very little pushback.
3. Novel Oil-Free Solid Lubricant, 2017-POL-67881
   Researchers at Purdue University have developed a novel graphene-zinc oxide-based composite film for use as a solid-state lubricant for friction and wear reduction under extreme load conditions. Using a ball-on-disk tribometer for testing, the composite film maintained its lubricating effects under extreme operating conditions. The durability and resilience of this adhesive coating suggest exceptional potential as a dry lubricant for high load-bearing applications.
4. Potassium-Ion Battery – an Alternative to the Lithium-Ion Battery, 2019-POL-68386
   Researchers at Purdue University have developed an alternative to the lithium-ion battery. The new technology focused on the development of electrochemically active materials and chemical structures for potassium-ion batteries (KIBs). Further experimentation by Purdue University researchers have shown that KIBs display increased safety and improved thermal runaway behavior.
5. Two-Step Process for Converting Shale Natural Gas to Liquid Fuels, 2018-MILL-68025
   Researchers at Purdue University have developed a two-step catalytic process, and improved catalysts for both process steps, for the conversion of shale gas hydrocarbons to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons useful for chemicals and fuels. This process requires fewer processing steps, less capital investment, and lower energy use when compared to existing technologies.

Find 19 categories of innovations developed by Purdue University researchers, all available to further develop through licensing or other commercialization agreements with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization.

Read about other innovations in the chemical engineering category on the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization website.