FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Process Dynamics Inc. has announced the sale of the intellectual property rights for IsoTherming technology to DuPont, a world-leader in science-based products and services. Process Dynamics was founded in 1993 by Michael Ackerson, a University of Arkansas associate professor of chemical engineering.

The trademarked IsoTherming technology will now be offered as a clean fuel technology application within DuPont Clean Technologies, a division of DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise. This new approach to hydrotreating allows refiners to produce cleaner fuels with significantly lower construction and operating costs.

“This partnership with DuPont places Process Dynamics in a position to meet the needs of refineries all around the world as clean fuel requirements are implemented,” said Ackerson.

Process Dynamics is a 2003 graduate of the University of Arkansas’ Genesis Technology Incubator. Genesis provides technology-based companies with research and development support. This support assisted the company as it grew from a fledgling start-up to a successful independent operation. Process Dynamics has since fostered relationships with several major engineering companies and oil companies, in addition to DuPont.

“This is a wonderful example of how the Genesis Technology Incubator and our engineering faculty are partnering to address the technological challenges that our society faces today,” said Ashok Saxena, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas and holder of the 21st Century Graduate Research Chair in Materials Science and Engineering. “It will be exciting to see the environmental and economic benefits that IsoTherming technology will offer to Arkansas and to the world.”

The first commercial IsoTherming hydrotreater was completed in 2003 at Giant Industries’ refinery in Ciniza, N.M. It was one of the first refineries in the nation to begin production of EPA-mandated ultra-low sulfur diesel. 

Process Dynamics has now licensed a total of nine IsoTherming technology packages to U.S. refiners. 

The company began with the goal of improving the process for making paraffin wax. Its first patents were issued for a solvent dewaxing and deoiling process. Process Dynamics has since expanded its direction to include a variety of advanced technology solutions for the refining industry.

DuPont operates in more than 70 countries around the world and offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food, building and construction, communications and transportation. 

Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.