EPA Awards $100K to Creekside to Advance Innovative Environmental Technologies
December 19, 2023
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $100,000 in research funding to Creekside to develop technologies that will help protect human health and the environment. Creekside (Starkville, Miss) will use EPA funding to develop low-cost adsorbents from waste products like rice hulls and biochar to reduce PFAS in drinking water, wastewater, and agricultural systems.
“EPA’s small business research funding allows us to harness the cutting-edge technology these small companies are developing to help solve complex environmental issues,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “EPA’s funding will help these businesses move their designs from concept to reality and help grow the green economy.”
Creekside is receiving a Phase I award as part of EPA’s annual Small Business Innovation Research program. The funding is for six months for “proof of concept”. Companies that complete Phase I can then apply to receive a Phase II award of $400,000 to further develop and commercialize their technologies. Creekside's Engineered biochar can remove PFAS from contaminated water.
DOE Awards $200K to Creekside to Support Innovation
On July 10, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $200,000 in funding to support innovation as Creekside through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Through the SBIR and STTR programs, DOE provides non-dilutive funding to small business research and development projects that improve energy efficiency and drive industrial decarbonization. The Creekside project will develop a novel Metal-Cation-induced Surface Nano-Engineering (MX+-SNE) technology to manufacture polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-free water- and oil-resistant packaging paper and tableware. If successful, this project could lead to a low-cost, biodegradable alternative to plastics and toxic PFAS-coated paper in the food packaging industry, creating fully recyclable packaging. The proposed project can potentially eliminate the use of PFAS in consumer food packaging, reducing the impact of consumer goods on the environment.
The Creekside process for wood pulp modification, and the hydrophobic tableware made from the processed pulps.