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• Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award 2022 awarded to BASF researchers in the USA, Germany and China;
• Formaldpure™ Catalyst converts formaldehyde into carbon dioxide and water;
• Removal of indoor pollutants at room temperature creates a healthier environment.
A team of BASF researchers was recognized by the Research and Development Council of New Jersey (rdnj.org) with the prestigious 2022 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award for the innovative Formaldpure™ Catalyst, which is designed to convert formaldehyde into carbon dioxide at room temperatures, improving indoor air quality.
The Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award for 2022 was presented to BASF researchers David Weinberger, Wolfgang Ruettinger, Pascaline Tran, Laif Alden, Ting Gu, Anju Shi, Nils Lawrenz and Lukas Wengeler, at a ceremony held on November 3, 2022.
Formaldehyde is a major indoor pollutant with increased public awareness in some countries. Formaldpure™ is a long-lasting catalyst which converts formaldehyde and certain other hydrocarbon pollutants into carbon dioxide and water without being consumed in the process. This addresses the challenge of removing low levels of pollutants from indoor living spaces at room temperature without having to heat the catalyst or the air flowing over it.
“We are proud that our innovations help to create a healthier environment,” said Christian Jutzi, Senior Vice President, BASF Mobile Emissions Catalysts. “It is who we are, as we follow our new standalone company purpose in BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions to ‘protect the elements of life’.”
Part of the invention is the consumer-product-friendly form of the catalyst, being supported on a thin and flexible foam substrate that can be easily incorporated into air purifiers by customers and ensures high efficiency in the reaction.
“Thomas Edison’s many inventions made a widespread impact on the modern industrialized world and on the quality of human life. BASF researchers, through their Formaldpure™ invention, have followed his path by inventing a novel solution that cleans the air we breathe,” said Saeed Alerasool, Senior Vice President, Research, Development and Application Engineering, Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions at BASF. “It is a great honor for BASF and our researchers to be recognized for this significant innovation.”
The invention offers excellent performance on formaldehyde removal and has demonstrated the ability to improve indoor air quality for both commercial and residential applications. An international team involving BASF research sites in Iselin, New Jersey, and Ludwigshafen, Germany, as well as Shanghai, China, worked closely together on this patent.
The Research & Development Council of New Jersey established the Edison Patent Award to honor Thomas Edison’s incredible legacy and to use his name to honor successor New Jersey inventors and the research organizations that drive innovation and continue to position New Jersey as a global innovator.
About BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions
As a chemicals supplier to almost all industries, BASF will establish a standalone subsidiary dedicated to its Mobile Emissions Catalysts, Precious Metals Trading, Recycling, and related Products and Services business. The new group is referred to as BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions and is wholly owned by BASF. BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions will operate globally in over 15 countries and comprise of approximately 20 production sites and over 4,000 employees.
About BASF
At BASF (basf.com), we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111.000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €78.6 billion in 2021.
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joseph.plahutnik[.]basf.com 
