[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 160 (Friday, August 18, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43131-43132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20552]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Golden Field Office; Notice of Federal Assistance Award to 
University of Wisconsin

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Financial Assistance Award in response to an 
Unsolicited Financial Assistance Application.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the DOE 
Financial Assistance Rules, 10 CFR 600.14, and under authority of 
section 2104 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, 42 U.S.C. 13454, is 
announcing its intention to enter into a cooperative agreement with the 
University of Wisconsin (UW), to perform the research necessary for the 
construction and testing of a fully integrated pilot-scale 
polyoxometalate bleaching facility. The UW project represents an 
innovative, commercially viable technology that will result in waste 
reduction and decreased energy usage.

ADDRESSES: Questions regarding this announcement may be addressed to 
the U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, 1617 Cole Blvd., 
Golden, Colorado 80401, Attention: John Motz, Contract Specialist. The 
telephone number is 303-275-4737.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE has evaluated the unsolicited 
application according to paragraphs 600.14 of the DOE Assistance 
Regulations, 10 CFR 600, and the criteria for selection in paragraph 
600.14 (e)(1). Based on this evaluation, it is recommended that the 
unsolicited application for Federal Assistance entitled, 
``Polyoxometalate Bleaching: An Efficient, Oxygen-Based, Closed Mill 
Technology,'' submitted by UW, be accepted for support. This award will 
not be made for at least 14 days, to allow for public comment.
    Under this cooperative agreement, UW will seek to duplicate the 
action of the selective agents used by wood rotting fungi to degrade 
lignin. The fungi use highly selective enzymes which rely on oxygen as 
the primary oxidant. The key to success in the UW program has been the 
identification of a class of agents, the polyoxometalates, which can be 
as selective as the enzymes with respect to their oxidative action, but 
which are also robust enough to use at elevated temperatures so that 
industrially feasible rates of reaction can be achieved. Furthermore, 
since they consist of metal oxides in their highest oxidation states, 
they possess the stability that is prerequisite for the use of 
catalytic systems in industrial processes. Finally, and perhaps most 
importantly, the spent polyoxometalate agents, which have been reduced 
during the bleaching stage, can be reoxidized with oxygen in a separate 
stage operated under conditions aggressive enough to completely 
mineralize all of the organic materials solubilized during bleaching. 
This would allow UW to achieve a primary goal of the pulp and paper 
industry, an effluent-free mill.
    The proposal has been found to be meritorious, and it is 
recommended that the unsolicited application be accepted for support. 
The UW program represents an innovative, commercially viable technology 
that will result in waste reduction and decreased energy usage. UW has 
demonstrated capabilities in the technologies directly related to the 
proposed project and personnel that should provide a basis for a 
successful project. The proposed project is not 

[[Page 43132]]
eligible for financial assistance under a recent, current, or planned 
solicitation.
    The project cost over five years is estimated to be $4,174,880 
total, with the DOE share being $2,499,880.

    Issued in Golden, Colorado, on August 10, 1995.
Matthew A. Barron,
Acting Chief, Procurement, GO.
[FR Doc. 95-20552 Filed 8-17-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P