Joseph DeSimone, Mary Ann Smith professor of chemistry, received a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award last month at a National Academy of Sciences ceremony.
DeSimone was recognized for discoveries that opened the door to using carbon dioxide to replace some of the 30 billion pounds of organic and halogenated organic chemicals manufactured worldwide each year for solvents. The work could lead the way to major improvements in the dry-cleaning business.
President Bill Clinton established the awards through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency two years ago to honor individuals, groups and organizations involved in "fundamental breakthroughs in cleaner, cheaper, smarter chemistry."
The award program is a partnership of industry, the EPA and scientific and technical associations. Nominations for the award were evaluated by an independent technical expert panel organized by the American Chemical Society.
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