Space age answer to creating natural cleaning product.

Ann LaGoy of Fishkill, N.Y produces her own line of all-natural, environmentally friendly cleaning products under the name Sound Earth.

But, one of her products has never measured up to the others due to a mixing problem. That changed when LaGoy recently discovered the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP) and enlisted some chemistry help.

Funded by NASA, SATOP is a program that provides free technical assistance to small business owners using knowledge and technology housed within the aerospace industry. Volunteers from more than 45 space alliance partners help speed the transfer of space technology to the marketplace by donating their time and expertise to help small business owners overcome their technical challenges and increase their chances of succeeding.

LaGoy was having challenges with her Velvet Hammer product, a nonabrasive, creamy cleanser that cleans fiberglass tubs and showers, ceramic tile and sinks, stovetops and butcher blocks.

"After mixing batches of Velvet Hammer, the ingredients were separating and settling to the bottom of the bottle," LaGoy said. "They would harden and never mix together again.

It was a big issue for me and my customers."

She was exhibiting her products at a festival in fall 2006. A woman expressed interest in Velvet Hammer, but LaGoy felt compelled to tell her about the challenge. Ironically, this customer was a representative from the Industrial and Technology Assistance Corporation, an economic development organization in New York, and knew about SATOP. She put LaGoy in touch with the program's New York office.

LaGoy completed a Request for Technical Assistance (RTA), which was assigned to New Mexico State University, a SATOP alliance partner.

"This was a chemistry challenge," said David Rockstraw, Ph.D., P.E., a chemical engineering professor at New Mexico State University. "Her product consisted of liquid and solid components. But, there was no component designed to keep the solids suspended in the solution. They were too heavy and settling to the bottom."

After a teleconference with LaGoy, Roekstraw went to work on a solution. He identified three challenges with Velvet Hammer.

The two active ingredients that handled the product's cleaning component were being mixed in a way that caused them to interact before the product was ever used. So, when it came time to use the product, there was a lot less of it in the bottle. Rockstraw altered the way the ingredients were mixed to protect them and prevent loss before product use.

"Ann was also mixing the product with a wooden paddle, which wasn't achieving the level of emulsion she needed," Rockstraw said. "I recommended she purchase a hand-held homogenizer to reach a higher rate of mixing."

Once the active ingredients were protected, Rockstraw worked with them in solid form. He separated each of the ingredients and paired them one-by-one to find the cause of separation. Vinegar was the culprit. Then, Rockstraw began experimenting with various stabilizers to keep the ingredients suspended in the liquid. In keeping with LaGoy's requirement that the ingredients be all-natural, Rockstraw found the answer in soy lecithin. Total time to reach a solution--two months!

Since adding the soy lecithin to Velvet Hammer, as well as making the other mixing changes, LaGoy has greatly enhanced her product. A tiny bit of separation still occurs, but the settling and hardening of the ingredients is gone.

"There's no way I would have been able to hire a chemist to work with me," LaGoy said, commenting on her SATOP experience. "And, the fact that it was free is simply amazing! There are a lot of small businesses which may have a fantastic product that is almost ready to go, like mine. With the added help from SATOP, it allows requestors to go from bare minimum existence, to producing a product that is marketable throughout the nation or the world."

SATOP-NY is operated through the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce. Membership in the Chamber is not required to benefit from SATOP's services. For more information on submitting an RTA, please call [phone] or visit www.spacetechsolutions.com.

The Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP) is a free service designed to provide technical assistance to small business owners and speed the transfer of space technology to the private sector. A cooperative program between the states of Florida, New Mexico, New York and Texas, the program is made up of an alliance of more than 45 partners, including NASA field centers, aerospace companies, universities and colleges. Platinum level Space Alliance Partners include: AJT Associates, Florida Institute of Technology, JE Jacobs, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, New Mexico State University, The Boeing Company, University of Central Florida, and United Space Alliance. Professionals within these companies donate their time and expertise to help inquiring small business owners solve their challenges and increase their chances of succeeding. For more information, visit www.spacetechsolutions.com.

Launched in 1987, the TRDA is an agency of the state of Florida that leverages federal, state and private resources to develop and implement technology-based programs in four target areas: education, business incubation, energy and technology transfer. Since its inception, the TRDA has leveraged tens of millions of dollars in funding to support its education and economic development programs.

By infusing new technology into businesses and schools, the TRDA helps to strengthen the economy and education throughout the state and nation. For more information, visit www.trda.org.