Chemicals/Polymers
The chemical industry is a major employer in the state, and West Virginia is a major producer of polymer materials. We are home to the Polymer Alliance Zone (PAZ)-a three-county industrial coalition near Parkersburg, which promotes development of downstream manufacturing businesses that use polymers produced in state. One project topic of interest to the IOF-WV chemicals/polymers group is development of technologies for recycling polymer materials-not just milk jugs, but CDs, computer and TV cases, etc. The PAZ and WVU are participants with two other private-sector partners on a $1.5 million project to help commercialize technologies for recycling polymers from end-of-life electronics.
IOF-WV Chemicals/Polymers Issues in Brief
- Conduct plant-wide energy assessments for West Virginia's chemical and polymer companies.
- Develop cost-effective recycling and waste minimization strategies and technologies.
- Conduct projects to support the long-term goal of zero-emissions for West Virginia's chemical and polymer industries.
- Expand manufacturing in West Virginia of end products made with chemicals and polymers produced in the state, e.g., polymer composite products for transportation, infrastructure, and electronics applications.
Links to Participating Companies
Projects:
- PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION, QUALITY CONTROL AND TRANSPORT PROPERITES OF NANOFLUIDS FOR OIL AND GAS DEEP HOLE DRILLING
- U.S. DOE INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM - TECHNOLOGY DELIVERY PLANT-WIDE ASSESSMENT AT PPG INDUSTRIES, NATRIUM, WV
- UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY CENTER FOR EXTRUSION-COMPOUNDING OF ADDITIVES FOR SUPERIOR PLASTICS PERFORMANCE
- ENERGY EFFICIENT PROCESS FOR MAKING TACKIFIER DISPERSIONS USED TO MAKE PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVES
- IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR MAKING TACKIFIER DISPERSIONS USED IN PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVES
- PLANT-WIDE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT AT THE NEW MARTINSVILLE, WV BAYER PLANT
- SEPARATION AND RECOVERY OF THERMOPLASTICS FROM NYLON PRODUCTION WASTE STREAMS
WVU Contacts:
- Rakesh Gupta
West Virginia University
Department of Chemical Engineering
(304) 293-2111 ext. 2427
gupta@cemr.wvu.edu - Richard Turton
West Virginia University
Department of Chemical Engineering
(304) 293-2111 ext 2415
Richard.Turton@mail.wvu.edu - Ed Crowe
WVU National Research Center for Coal & Energy
(304) 293-2867 ext. 5435
Ed.Crowe@mail.wvu.edu
Industry Contacts:
- John M. Maher, Ph. D.
Chemical Alliance Zone, Inc.
(304) 720-1023
johnmaher@cazwv.com - Doug Ritchie
SDR Plastics Inc.
(304) 273-5326
dritchie@sdrplastics.com