ITHACA — A Cornell University spinoff company with a research and development lab in Ithaca will use $5 million in federal funds on a project that involves repurposing waste carbon dioxide from industrial sources.
Novomer, Inc., which has its lab in Ithaca and business office in Waltham, Mass., will work with private and public partners on new manufacturing processes, according to the federal Department of Energy, which awarded the funding.
The Novomer project will convert waste carbon dioxide and material from shale gas into chemicals used in applications like paints, coatings, textiles, diapers, and plastic polymers. The new manufacturing processes should reduce energy use by 20 percent to 40 percent, according to the Energy Department.
The project is one of five across the country to receive a total of $23.5 million from the department. The efforts are aimed at new technologies, materials, and processes that can help manufacturers increase energy efficiency and reduce costs, the department said.
Novomer launched in 2004. The firm was founded in Ithaca and based on Cornell research.
Contact Tampone at ktampone@cnybj.com