A team of BASF researchers was recognized by the Research and Development Council of New Jersey 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 FormaldpureTM 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.