[news 2009-2010]

Green Chemistry breakthrough earns Queen’s scientist prestigious John C. Polanyi Award

For immediate release

Jan. 15, 2009

KINGSTON, ON -- A Queen’s University researcher whose Green Chemistry discovery was ranked among the Canadian chemical discoveries of the past 100 years has received the prestigious John C. Polanyi Award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Professor Philip Jessop of Queen's Department of Chemistry is this year's recipient of the $250,000 prize, which recognizes a recent outstanding advance in any field of the natural sciences or engineering. Dr. Jessop has developed a "green" chemical method for triggering the emulsion of separation of mixtures such as oil and water, or solvents, using carbon dioxide and air. His "switchable" solvents and surfactants offer potential as environmentally safe alternatives to existing methods of fossil fuel recovery and manufacturing processes, which produce large quantities of toxic byproducts.

In May Dr. Jessop’s work was one of 20 chemical breakthroughs – eight of them by Nobel Prize winners – included in the top chemical discoveries list compiled by the trade journal the Canadian Chemical News.  

Dr. Jessop’s technology is being commercialized by PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer office of Queen’s University.  Dr. Jessop is Canada Research Chair of Green Chemistry at Queen’s University and an Ontario Centres of Excellence Champion of Innovation.

"Dr. Jessop is a truly deserving recipient of this award," says Dr. Rui Resendes, Director of Commercial Development, Chemistry and Materials, at PARTEQ. "His solution displays both ingenuity and elegance, harnessing the properties of two of the earth's most basic elements to address a wide range of environmental problems. We are delighted to see his work honored with this award."

Dr. Jessop is the second Queen’s researcher to receive the Polanyi prize.  Dr. Art McDonald of Queen’s Dept. of Physics and the Sudbury Neutrino Lab team were the inaugural winners of the award in 2006.

Contact:

Dr. Rui Resendes, Director

Commercial Development, Chemistry and Materials

PARTEQ Innovations

P: 613. 533. 6000 xt 79175

E: rresendes@parteqinnovations.com