Chemicals Technology Transfer & Licensing Opportunities
Urea or Urine Powered Fuel Cell Technology for Low Cost Energy Systems >>Heriot-Watt has received EPSRC Follow on Fund award to develop a Urea Fuel Cell.
Led by Dr Shanwen Tao the project focus is on developing low temperature membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and catalyst that will use Urea solutions such as Greenox (tm), Adblue (tm) or Urine as a low cost easily transported readily available fuel source.
Lab experiments showing "Proof of Principle" with Urea solutions have been completed.
A new family of intracellular imaging display dyes >>Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have created a new family of fluorescein-based dyes that are in the visible range and can be used to measure intracellular pH, viscosity and temperature.
Multi-channel Small Footprint Directly Intergrated Optical Sensors for FBG Sensor Network Interrogation >>Funded by a Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept programme (11-DME-003) a team at Heriot-Watt University is developing lightweight high accuracy Fiber Brag Grating (FBG) network interrogators targeting applications within Civil engineering, Aerospace, biosensing and chemical detection.
Using a small footprint multi-channel design the robust sensor chip offers an alternative to existing spectrometer based solutions in FBG sensing.
Cystinosis - Cystagon Prodrug >>Nephropathic cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disease. It is characterised by raised lysosomal levels of cystine in the cells of most organs. If untreated, the disease, results in death from renal failure by the second decade of life.
Cysteamine, the treatment for cystinosis, posesses an offensive taste and smell and irritates the gastrointestinal tract leading to nausea and vomiting following administration. In addition, cysteamine and its metabolites are excreted in breath and sweat. As a result of these problems patient compliance can be poor.
Microfluidic Chip for High Efficiency Plasma Separation for non-invasive diagnostics >>Researchers at Heriot-Watt University (Scotland) have designed a microfluidic chip capable of high efficiency separation of (whole) blood into blood plasma and red blood cell streams for further analyses.
The high flow design produces a large particle free zone shown to be 100% cell free; extracted plasma is suitable for direct PCR amplification fo the genetic material without further treatment.
Separation
Hand Held, Low Cost Drug Detection System for detecting Narcotics in Saliva >>Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have developed an innovative method for the presumptive detection of narcotics in saliva.
The technique offers a simple "Yes/No" result in seconds using a low powered handheld reader and economic disposable media.
Soluble Polymer Catalysts >>The project is developing commercial processes using organocatalysts for chiral chemical production. In doing so, a number of existing metal catalyst processes will be replaced. There are environmental challenges associated with recovery of the metals used (e.g., iridium, rhodium, palladium, etc.), and also cost implications necessitated by the removal of unwanted metal residues from the resulting compounds.
Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensor for Dew Point Measurement >>The Institute of Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University has developed a patented method of measuring the Dew Point and Bubble Point phase transitions in fluids using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM). This technology can provide a superior measurement of the Dew Point of rich gas condensate systems and, in particular, wet gases and lean wet gases.
Genespark Molecular Label >>Genespark is a fast fluorescent molecular labelling technology with unlimited multiplex scalability.
Bijel Capsules: Co-release Micro-gel >>Colloid scientists at the University of Edinburgh have invented a new generic route to gel capsule formulation, involving particles suspended in fluid-bicontinuous mixture of two solvents.
Bijels: Emulsion Gels Stabilized by Particles >>Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have invented a new generic route to gel formulation, involving particles suspended in fluid-bicontinuous mixture of two solvents.
Novel polymeric nano-carriers for drug delivery and other biomedical applications. >>Researchers at The Robert Gordon University have engineered novel nano-sized polymeric solubilisers to encapsulate and deliver therapeutic agents such as peptides, proteins and water insoluble drugs. In the aqueous solution, these delivery systems form a protective core, which can trap and separate their cargo from the aqueous environment. Hence, they can also be designed to carry potent substances, which are easily degradable in an aqueous environment during processing/manufacturing. They are easy to prepare and due to the diverse architecture of these delivery systems, they can be tailored made to carry a broad range of molecules for biomedical application
Deoxygenation >>Researchers at The Robert Gordon University have created a ceramic catalytic reactor for deoxygenating a fluid.
Oxidative Stress Probe >>Fluorescent antioxidant used for the real-time measurement of the amount and rate of oxidative activity.
Synthesis of nucleoside triphosphates >>Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed two novel and complimentary methods for syntheses of nucleic acids. These new systems employ polymer-supported reagents to generate nucleic acids.
Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure Chiral Amines. >>Researchers at the University of St Andrews have developed a synthetic process for the preparation of a class of enantiomerically pure chiral amines. This efficient and economical method gives rise to entities of a varied structural class, which can be used as building blocks in the synthesis of bioactives or catalysts for asymmetric synthesis.
Oxygen Intelligent Ink >>Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is a modern and much used method to protect oxygen sensitive items, most commonly foodstuffs and sterilised medical equipment. It is imperative within this form of packaging that the level of oxygen is known, to indicate product tampering and assure quality. Current oxygen sensors tend to be unreliable, due to their reversibility with oxygen, and are also typically costly with short shelf-lives. New research at the University of Strathclyde has discovered a novel sensor for measuring oxygen levels within MAP.
An Intelligent Ink for the detection of Photocatalytic Films >>Self-cleaning glass and tiles coated with a photocatalytic semiconductor film have been on the industrial and commercial markets for some time now. Until now the stearic acid test has been the primary method of measuring photocatalytic activity. However, this is a complex, time-consuming technique and cannot be performed on products in situ. Novel technology has now emerged from the University of Strathclyde that overcomes the inherent difficulties of the stearic acid test.
Antimicrobial Agent Targets in Acanthamoeba - A treatment for contact-lens induced infection >>Acanthamoeba are microscopic amoeba commonly found in the environment. Through improper storage, handling, and disinfection of contact lenses, Acanthamoeba can enter the eye and cause severe ulcerations of the cornea - a condition called Acanthamoeba keratitis. Current treatments are extremely cumbersome and often fail as Acanthamoeba can develop into cysts that are resistant to the drugs used to treat it. Even if successful, the damage to the eye can be so extensive that a cornea transplant is required. Moreover, the drug-resistant cysts remaining in the eye can re-infect the transplanted cornea.
Wastewater remediation: Hydrocavitational Advanced Fenton Process (HCAFP) >>HCAFP, pioneered by researchers at the University of Abertay Dundee, is a novel, patented process for the treatment of industrial wastewaters containing recalcitrant organic pollutants, such as those from the chemical sector. The process is an innovative development of a well-proven chemical oxidation reaction that provides a solution for the rapid and effective removal of these pollutants.
Currently, a significant volume of effluent from the chemical sector is tankered off-site for disposal as it is not cost effective, or practical, to provide on-site treatment. By reducing the toxic organic content HCAFP can render these wastewaters amenable to traditional downstream treatment processes or potential direct discharge to sewer.
Industrial Psychology Research Centre >>The Industrial Psychology Research Centre at the University of Aberdeen specialises in the application of psychology to the management of health, safety and emergency response in the workspace, particularly for high reliability organisations. Established in 1987 the Centre has research and consultancy experience within the oil and gas industry, nuclear and conventional power generation, civil aviation, the emergency services and hospital medicine.
The Scottish Offshore Materials Centre (SOMC) >>SOMC is a new facility funded by a Research Development Grant and is located within the University of Aberdeen's Engineering and Chemistry Departments. At the heart of SOMC is a state of-the-art High Pressure-High Temperature (HP-HT) test facility that is dedicated to the needs of manufacturers and users in the oil and gas, petro-chemical, chemicals and energy sectors. The facility allows the testing of materials, components, equipment and geological materials under typical HP-HT downhole service conditions.
