GOLDEN, COLO., JULY 16, 2002 - An incredibly thin ceramic fiber that filters bacteria and viruses was named one of the year's 100 most significant innovations.
The fiber was one of three technological innovations developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) which made it into the Research & Development (R&D) Magazine's top 100 list.
The laboratory's other two awards for 2002 are for a new material that protects and extends the life of key components in geothermal power plants and a solar power system that produces electricity while still allowing sunlight to pass through it.
This year's announcement brings to 34 the number of R&D 100 awards garnered by NREL. "Behind each award that NREL has received over the years is another success story about the important work performed by our research staff," said NREL Director Richard Truly. "We're especially gratified to receive such honors on this, the 25th Anniversary of the laboratory."
The NanoCeram™ Nanoalumina Fiber is a nanoscale alumina-based ceramic fiber that when incorporated in a filter can eliminate 99.99999 percent of viruses and bacteria from contaminated air or water.
It can be used to clean heavy metals from polluted water, as a growth media for microbes for bio-medical purposes, and holds promise as a lattice for artificial bone growth.
NREL won jointly with Argonide Corporation, and the Design Technology Center of Tomsk, Russia. NREL researchers on the project were David Ginley, Tanya Rivkin, Calvin Curtis, Alexander Miedaner and Kim Jones.
"We are still amazed at how versatile this unique fiber is proving to be," said Ginley, an NREL team leader who holds the distinction of working on separate projects that have resulted in four of the R&D 100 Awards that have gone to NREL. "This fiber material has led to breakthrough products in several areas, and more are on the way."
NREL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory managed by Midwest Research Institute, Battelle and Bechtel. The laboratory is a leading center for research into solar energy technologies, wind energy, plant- and waste-derived fuels and chemicals, energy-efficient buildings, advanced vehicle design, geothermal energy and hydrogen fuel cells. Visit NREL online at www.nrel.gov.
