We have previously described amide synthetases that can be used to synthesize amide oligomers for production of commercial polyamides. In this work, we engineered an amide synthetase to efficiently produce the nylon-6,6 diad, composed of adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine linked by a single amide bond. This product can readily be polymerized to high-molecular-weight nylon-6,6.
Separating neighboring lanthanides is challenging because these elements have very similar chemical and physical properties. ORNL has developed a solid-liquid separation process that uses a coordinated two-component chemistry to selectively separate adjacent heavy lanthanides in a single step. The approach is designed to improve separation performance where conventional extraction materials are less effective, with potential
This invention discloses a developed two-dimensional catalyst for efficient, selective and stable hydrogenation of CO2 to CO at temperatures as high as 600 degrees C. The bare catalyst shows high activity at temperatures as low as 400 degrees C and reaches equilibrium conversion above 550C with close to ~100% selectivity to CO. The CO production
To enable to recovery of useful materials from spent nuclear fuel, we propose an approach that uses gravitational settling and filtration to remove particles from solvents within the challenging operating environment of a hot cell. This approach minimizes the use of high-maintenance and radiation-sensitive equipment. It can be implemented, for example, for the separation of
Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential to many advanced technologies, but complex mining-based and electronic waste feedstocks can make their separation and purification challenging. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is developing a membrane solvent extraction process designed to separate critical REEs from other rare earth elements in domestic mining feedstocks and electronic waste, including scrap
A process for upgrading coal-derived liquids into higher-value isotropic coal tar pitch suitable for advanced carbon-based products. Many coal liquids and low-softening-point pitches are unsuitable for demanding industrial applications. The technology enables controlled enhancement of pitch properties, allowing a broader range of feedstocks to be converted into materials appropriate for carbon fiber, graphite, and electrode
High-fidelity quantum chemical simulations often require computational accuracy that exceeds the practical capabilities of today’s quantum hardware. This technology provides a hybrid quantum-classical approach that improves the accuracy of quantum simulations by combining quantum-generated results with advanced classical processing. The method enables more precise prediction of chemical and physical properties without increasing quantum hardware requirements,
Conventional leaching methods for rare earth element (REE) extraction lack selectivity, often recovering mixed elements and increasing downstream processing complexity. This technology introduces a selective leaching approach that preferentially extracts higher-value heavy REEs from various feedstocks, including mining waste. By improving selectivity at the earliest stage of extraction, it enhances process efficiency and reduces the
Biogas often contains high levels of acid gases that limit its use in pipeline and fuel applications. This technology provides a compact, efficient method to upgrade biogas by selectively removing unwanted components, enabling higher-quality gas output. The approach supports decentralized gas processing and can be adapted for both large-scale facilities and smaller, distributed systems, improving
Methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) production relies on catalysts that efficiently convert carbon-containing feedstocks while maintaining high selectivity toward desired products. Conventional catalyst systems often suffer from competing reactions that reduce overall yield. This technology introduces an improved catalyst preparation approach that enhances the performance of CuO/ZnO/ZrO2-based catalysts. The resulting catalyst system improves both selectivity
This technology enables recovery of high-purity copper from complex lithium-ion battery (LIB) black mass feedstocks using a scalable membrane-based separation process. The approach addresses the growing challenge of isolating copper from mixtures containing multiple competing metals, where conventional recovery methods are costly, energy-intensive, and operationally complex. The process is designed for continuous operation and modular
This technology provides a new catalytic approach for processing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste to selectively remove chlorine and simultaneously generate hydrogen. The process addresses long-standing challenges associated with PVC recycling, including harsh processing conditions, equipment corrosion, and poor product selectivity. By operating under relatively mild conditions and without external hydrogen or solvent inputs, the technology