LONDON, October 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

ICIS (http://www.icis.com ), the trusted information provider for the global chemical and energy industries, today reveals that US-based technology start-up Compact Membrane Systems has been chosen as the overall winner in the ICIS Innovation Awards (http://www.icis.com/awards ) for 2016.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160408/353056LOGO )

The company's chief technology officer Sudip Majumdar has additionally been recognised with one of the inaugural Alpha Innovator of the Year awards, launched this year in association with the ICIS Innovation Awards overall sponsor Elsevier R&D Solutions.

Compact Membrane Systems' Optiperm technology separates olefins from paraffins and enables petrochemical producers to achieve higher yields at lower energy intensity and with reduced capital costs. The new technology uses silver-containing fluoropolymer membranes to effect the difficult separation, avoiding the need for conventional large-scale distillation columns.

The innovation was judged the clear winner by the panel of six leading industry innovation experts. The judges commented that it had huge potential and shows that there is still potential to innovate deep in the heart of the petrochemical value chain. Sudip Majumdar was recognised for his role in driving forward the innovation project and his expertise in membrane technology.

The ICIS Innovation Awards, sponsored overall by Elsevier R&D Solutions (http://www.elsevier.com/rd-solutions/chemicals) and with category sponsorship from U.S. Chemicals, a Maroon Group company, (http://www.uschemicals.com) and ExxonMobil Chemical (http://www.exxonmobilchemical.com), recognise outstanding technological and business innovation in the global chemical industry, on a company and individual level.

The Compact Membrane Systems' entry also won the category for Best Innovation by an SME, sponsored by ExxonMobil Chemical. It is the first time in the awards' 13-year history that the overall winner has been an SME.

Other winners this year were:

Best Product Innovation 

Dow Chemical, for its Canvera polyolefin dispersion technology for can coatings

Best Process Innovation  

Siluria Technologies, for its oxidative coupling of methane technology for ethylene production

(Aqua Metals lead acid battery recycling technology received a special mention from the judges in this category)

Innovation with Best Benefit to Environment or Sustainability 

Covestro, for its development of carbon dioxide as a raw material in polyurethane production

(Dow Chemical's Phormanto polyolefin thermoformed packaging solution received a special mention from the judges in this category)

Alpha Innovator of the Year - Product development/process optimisation 

Awarded to Mr Marc Swan and Professor Jan Czernuszka of Oxtex for their development of a tissue-expanding medical insert for use in reconstructive surgery.

John Baker, ICIS editor and organiser of the Awards, commented that: "This year's Awards yet again attracted a strong entry and led to a very robust discussion as the judges debated the merits of the leading entries. As in previous years, the innovations before the judges showcased a wide range of excellent products and processes, with the potential to make important impacts in their respective markets and reduce environmental impacts.

"All the winners demonstrate not only that innovation is well and truly alive in the chemical industry but that this innovation brings benefits not only to companies and their customers but the environment as well. And it helps the sustainability of the business of chemicals."

Full descriptions of all the winning entries, and interviews with the sponsors, can be found at http://www.icis.com/awards 

The winners can be contacted for more information at: 

Compact Membrane Systems  

Hannah Murnen

Vice president business development

Tel: +1 267 610 5824

Email: hmurnen@compactmembrane.com

Dow Chemical - Canvera 

Jamie Ellis, media relations manager

Tel: +1 989 636 3325

Email: jellis@dow.com

Covestro 

Karsten Malsch

Venture Manager CO2-Polyols

Tel: +49 214 6009 5725

Email: karsten.malsch@covestro.com

Siluria Technologies  

Director of government affairs and business development

Tel: +1 510 847 3882

Email: dzaziski@siluriatech.com

Oxtex 

Randhir Tindal

Quality manager

Tel: +44 1993 848248

Email: Randhir.tindal@oxtex.com

Dow Chemical - Phormanto 

Joao Gargalaka

TS&D for food and specialty packaging applications

Tel: +55 11 99929 4182

Email: gargalakajunior@dow.com

Aqua Metals 

Chloe Holden

Associate account executive, Antenna

Tel: +1 510 366 4749

Email: chloe@antennagroup.com

Notes to Editors: 

About ICIS 

ICIS, the trusted information provider for the chemical and energy industries, is part of Reed Business Information (RBI), a division of Reed Business and a member of Reed Elsevier plc (525), (UK:REL) (US:RUK) (NL:45443), the world's leading publisher and information provider. For more information on ICIS visit http://www.icis.com

RBI publishes over 100 market leading publications, directories and online services, and organises many industry conferences and awards. For a full listing visit http://www.reedbusiness.co.uk

For further information contact: 

John Baker

Global editor, ICIS

Tel: + 44 20 8652 3153

Email: john.baker@icis.com

Web site: http://www.icis.com

About Elsevier R&D Solutions 

Elsevier helps chemical companies bring commercially successful compounds to market while efficiently managing costs, safety, and regulations, by providing immediate access to specialised technical intelligence.

For further information contact: 

Regina Javier

Strategic communications director

Elsevier R&D Solutions

Tel: + 1 212 633 3700

Email: r.javier@elsevier.com

Web site: http://www.elsevier.com/rd-solutions/chemicals

About U.S. Chemicals, LLC 

Serving the needs of the chemical industry for over 55 years, U.S. Chemicals, a Maroon Group company, combines quality, innovation and service like none other. U.S. Chemicals has built a team that thoroughly understands the complexities of the chemical industry and includes experts at material sourcing and acquisition.

For further information, contact: 

Carol Piccaro

President and CEO

U.S. Chemicals, LLC

Tel: +1 203 655 8878

Email: cpiccaro@uschemicals.com

Web site:http://www.uschemicals.com

About ExxonMobil Chemical 

ExxonMobil Chemical is one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Our unique portfolio of commodity and specialty businesses generates annual sales of more than 24 million tonnes of prime products. We have world-scale manufacturing facilities in all major regions, and our products serve as the building blocks for a wide variety of everyday consumer and industrial products.

For further information, contact:
Mike Lacey
Opportunity Identification Manager
New Product Platforms
ExxonMobil Chemical Company
Tel: +1 832 625 4773
Email: michael.lacey@exxonmobil.com
Web site: http://www.exxonmobilchemical.com

SOURCE ICIS