Case Studies

Learn how Battelle enabled the safe capture or utilization of 2+ million metric tons of CO2.

In recent years, the U.S. federal government has identified a need for lower-cost non-standard commercial vehicles (NSCV). NSCVs – such as pick-up trucks, sport-utility vehicles, sedans, and vans – allow military forces to operate in areas without military logistical support. For more than eight years, Battelle has produced lightweight armored and upgraded vehicles for clients who sought better operational performance and protection.

The University of Alaska and Battelle received an NSF award to bring together research and local people’s needs and determine what information/observations are needed to secure sustainable food supplies in near-coastal Arctic ecosystems.

Mycoremediation is a form of bioremediation that uses fungi to break down and extract contaminants from the environment. However, using live fungal cultures is problematic. Battelle developed an encapsulation technology to protect the enzymes from physical and chemical degradation.

Corrosion costs industry billions of dollars every year—more than $7 billion annually for oil and gas pipelines alone. We developed a smart microbead that breaks open when corrosion is detected. The smart beads look like a fine white powder and can be mixed into paints and coatings.

Battelle worked with the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to develop a stand-alone tool called SiteWise™ to evaluate and quantify the environmental, health, safety and economic impact of a variety of restoration alternatives. SiteWise™ expands on existing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) concepts to conduct GSR assessments specifically tailored to site restoration and remediation.

Battelle's combined metagenomic and metaproteomic analytical approaches demonstrated how microorganisms respond to changes in the environment such as exposure to crude oil. The microbial response to crude oil was investigated using genetic sequence profiling (metagenomics) and functional protein profiling (metaproteomic) to observe perturbations in microbial biodiversity and functional protein content.

While many who travel in airports are rushing to catch a flight, we take for granted the technology that keeps us safe -- the baggage scanner. An airport security screener’s ability to find weapons or explosives hidden in luggage can be affected by the visual complexity of the X-ray image. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) asked Battelle to create an objective, quantitative measure of visual complexity so that its effects on screening performance could be studied more rigorously.

A medical device manufacturer was experiencing an intermittent problem with an injection-molded plastic component. During startup, parts would come off the line with a small blister in the plastic. They came to Battelle for help in solving the mystery.

Directed-energy unmanned aircraft system (UAS) countermeasure developed by Battelle.

Exposure to formaldehyde in ambient air poses one of the greatest risks for cancer among the air toxins. The current methods for measure carbonyls has limitations. Battelle investigated the method with the goal of updating guidance on how best to implement this critical air monitoring technique.

Environmental chemicals that may disrupt the hormonal or endocrine systems of humans as well as wildlife and other animals have been a concern since at least the 1960s. Many of the endocrine screening assays and other tests in use today are based on or supported by research that was led by Battelle.

Our client needed a comparative formative study of two different devices for administration of glucagon in rescue situations (i.e., diabetic severely hypoglycemic and going into shock). It was critical to determine how well users were able to use the devices when under extreme stress and develop risk/safety profiles for each device.

The CDC came to Battelle in 2008 for help in managing, implementing and improving the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network, an online portal for environmental and public health data reporting, collection and dissemination.

The 2014 Ebola epidemic prompted an urgent need for an approved vaccine to treat or prevent the disease in future outbreaks. Based on Battelle’s extensive experience in vaccine testing and managing highly regulated, complex projects involving high-containment pathogens, we were chosen to evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy of Ebola vaccine candidates to determine if they were protective.

As part of a DOE-sponsored project, Battelle and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) developed a novel catalyst for conversion of pyrolysis bio oil feedstock. The new catalyst did not degrade as quickly as traditional catalysts, allowing for more bio oil production. The bio oil was also higher quality than the oil produced with traditional catalysts.

Our advanced analytical methods were able to achieve detection limits 10 to 100 times lower than conventional U.S. EPA methods of analysis, while meeting the demanding data quality objectives of Green Book. Using our analysis, the U.S. ACE was able to make appropriate disposal recommendations for all of its dredged material.

Lithium ion batteries are the battery of choice for laptops, electric vehicles and many other applications due to their high energy density, low maintenance and recharging ability. As electric vehicles become more commonplace and new battery uses are identified for aerospace, industrial and consumer applications, their use continues to grow. Battelle researchers developed the concept that an optical sensor could be used to monitor the battery for internal flaws such as dendrites.

Battelle's next-generation HUMVEE armor kits gave our clients survivability and performance in a lightweight design that could adapt to new threats and mission profiles. Proven in combat, Battelle's innovative designs are now found on several new types of special mission vehicles.

A functioning laboratory proof-of-concept is needed in larger volumes, at lower cost, and with higher reliability. What's Battelle's solution? Autonomously deployed, high accuracy ocean-measuring partial pressure carbon dioxide sensor system. The partial pressure carbon dioxide sensor (pCO2) is another design that transitioned laboratory proof-of-concept functions to products that are currently deployed around the world.