Advanced Electron Beams and the University of Reims Collaborate on Green Chemistry Research
Advanced Electron Beams (AEB), which enables the green factory of the future by making sustainability possible and profitable for manufacturers, and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne today announced a collaboration in which the University will use AEB’s electron beam technology for fundamental research on electron beam-induced chemistry and materials transformation. This research has a wide range of potential applications, including creating more environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging, improving product safety and helping companies transform today’s inefficient and wasteful manufacturing processes.
AEB’s emitters use a stream of electrons to initiate chemical reactions or break chemical bonds more efficiently than existing thermal and chemical approaches, helping companies reduce energy consumption by up to 60-90 percent and decrease chemical and water use. The University of Reims has installed AEB’s Application Development Emitter Unit in its new Institute of Molecular Chemistry, where it will study the effects of accelerated electrons on a wide range of chemical compounds with a focus on electron beam-induced polymerization, polymer modification and controlled degradation of macromolecules. Dr. Xavier Coqueret, professor in the Institute of Molecular Chemistry within the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Reims, is the lead researcher and will direct related academic and partner-sponsored research.
“We see great promise in electron beam technology, and we’re excited about its potential to spark innovation,” said Dr. Xavier Coqueret, University of Reims. “This collaboration will help us accelerate our research and further the green chemistry mission by helping companies discover new ways to save energy and reduce the use of hazardous substances.”
“The work being done at the University of Reims is fundamental to innovation in the chemical sciences,” said Mitch Tyson, CEO, Advanced Electron Beams. “Their groundbreaking research using electron beams will bring us closer to widespread adoption, where e-beams will enable more eco-friendly manufacturing processes and serve as sustainable and efficient workhorses for green factories of the future.”
About the Institute of Molecular Chemistry at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne
The Universite de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA) is a comprehensive French University with Faculties of Exact and Natural Sciences, Health, Arts and Humanities and with an Institute of Technology. The current university dates from the post-war era and at present has about 23,000 students at a number of campuses throughout the city, and in the major towns of the district.
The Institute of Molecular Chemistry (ICMR) was established in January of 2008 in the Faculty of Natural Sciences through the combination of three research units focused on organic and coordinative chemistry, pharmacognosis and polymer science. It has 110 members, with 75 permanent faculty. ICMR contracts with the French scientific research council (CNRS, Unite Mixte de Recherche 6229) on projects focused on fundamental aspects of molecular chemistry. Application-oriented activities are also conducted at ICMR for the valorization of biomass, medicinal chemistry and the development of clean chemical processes.
The program funding the AEB Application Development Unit at ICMR is jointly supported by Region Champagne-Ardenne, by the Ministry of Research and Technology and by the European fund FEDER.
About Advanced Electron Beams
Advanced Electron Beams (AEB) enables the green factory of the future by making sustainable manufacturing possible and profitable. AEB’s compact electron beam emitters replace thermal and chemical processes for cleaner, more efficient, lower-cost manufacturing. For industries such as pharmaceutical, medical devices, food and beverage, printing, and plastics, AEB emitters sterilize products and packaging, improve the performance of plastics and other materials, cure inks and coatings and eliminate pollution. For more information about Wilmington, MA.-based AEB, visit: http://www.aeb.com/.