CEM & USEPA Enter into R&D Agreement for Research into Green Microwave Chemistry Scale-up Methods.

MATTHEWS, N.C. -- CEM Corporation, a leading provider of microwave laboratory instrumentation, announced today that it has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The goal of the agreement is to develop large-scale, microwave chemistry methods for a wide variety of chemistries using solvents that are more environmentally friendly, such as water or polyethylene glycol (PEG). These environmentally-friendly solvents could be employed to produce valuable intermediates and products useful in the development of pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and nanomaterials.

Gordon M. Evans, Director of the Sustainable Technology Division at EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio, said, "We're very excited to have the opportunity to work with CEM. As one of the world's leading suppliers of microwave equipment, we appreciate their interest in working with Dr. Rajender S. Varma of our staff. We feel it's a wonderful recognition of the pioneering research he's conducted in this area and we're looking forward to this collaborative effort as a great way to advance the ideas of green chemistry and sustainability through the use of microwave-assisted chemical synthesis."

The EPA has developed new chemical processes and solvent schemes that are significantly safer for the environment. Under the terms of the research agreement, CEM will contribute the time of its scientists and apply existing technology or technology currently in development at the Company to establish scale-up protocols of EPA chemical processes. Likewise, the EPA will also contribute the time of its scientists, and will provide required laboratory analysis in support of the project.

"Microwave energy is a highly-effective green chemistry technology," said Michael J. Collins, president and CEO of CEM Corporation. "It is clean, fast, efficient, and applicable to numerous types of chemistries. We are looking forward to working with the EPA to expand the present scale range of microwave-assisted reactions and developing 'greener,' or more environmentally-friendly, methods for those reactions."

CEM is a pioneering company in the development of microwave systems for use in chemistry and holds over 200 patents for the use of microwave technology in chemistry. One avenue that will be explored under the agreement is the use of the CEM's patented PowerMAX[TM] (simultaneous cooling while heating) technology, which enables chemists to work with temperature-sensitive or highly-reactive intermediates and still achieve the same type of yield and rate-enhancing benefits seen in microwave-assisted, high-temperature chemistries.

"CEM's unique combination of a strong, experienced R&D team and innovative, developmental chemists gives us a level of expertise which is unusual for our industry. That capability combined with our flexibility will serve to make our work with the EPA a productive and scientifically significant collaboration," concluded Collins.

CEM Corporation, a private company based in Matthews, North Carolina, is a leading provider of microwave laboratory instrumentation. The Company has subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France, as well as a global network of distributors. CEM designs and manufactures systems for life sciences, analytical laboratories and processing plants worldwide. The Company's products are used in many industries including pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical and food processing, as well as academic research.