Three Dow Innovations Named Finalists for 2017 ICIS Innovation Awards

The Dow Chemical Company said that three of its technologies are finalists for the 2017 ICIS Innovation Awards.

ICIS presents the awards to companies and individuals that demonstrate high levels of innovation in products and processes, provide benefits to the environment and show progress toward sustainability, according to a press release from Dow.

The winners will be announced in October. 

According to Corporate Media Relations Leader, Jarrod Erpelding, and Public Affairs Manager, Christy English, here are the categories, technologies and descriptions:

Best Product Innovation:
UCON™ Oil Soluble Polyalkylene Glycols (OSP) are a new range of base oil and performance enhancing additive for demanding lubricant applications. UCON OSP have been designed to overcome the lack of hydrocarbon compatibility of conventional polyalkylene glycols while maintaining their key benefits such as deposit and friction control. When used as additives in hydrocarbon oil based engine lubricant formulations, UCON OSP fluids provide a way to reduce CO2 emissions through improved fuel efficiency performance, as well as deposit control that provides long term engine component protection. These features have been demonstrated across a wide battery of test conditions and engine designs for formulations containing UCON OSP developed through close collaboration of Dow and Total Lubricants.
 
Best Process Innovation: 
Dow fluidized catalytic dehydrogenation (FCDh) Process: Both ethylene and propylene are valuable intermediates in the production of plastic and other products critical to everyday use. The shift to lighter cracker feedstocks from shale gas and slowing gasoline demand for refineries are leading to lower propylene production for traditional sources creating a propylene shortage when compared to demand. Dow has developed FCDh technology that is based on commercially available Fluidized Catalytic Cracking technology, selectively producing valuable propylene from abundant shale gas resources. The patent-protected Dow process design enables greater than 20 percent capital savings versus other commercial processes. It also reduces energy requirements per pound of propylene produced. The technology is flexible and can be easily integrated into existing or new ethylene crackers to increase production or tailor these facilities for the desired amount of ethylene and propylene production. It can be used in other aliphatic and aromatic production processes as well. Dow is exploring commercial options to advance this technology with favorable interest in the market.
 
Innovation With Best Benefit For Environment and Sustainability:
ROPAQUE™ NT-2900 Opaque Polymer for BLUE 4EST™ Thermal Paper is a more sustainable thermal paper option for applications such as cash register receipts, tickets, tags, and labels. The technology, which is compatible with existing printers, is free of chemical developers and removes chemicals of concern from production.










Photo courtesy The Dow Chemical Corp./Dow.com