Success Stories

XploSafe was one of five finalists honored for creating an adsorbent material to clean water and fertilize crops

Partnerships with small businesses who are making great strides in science and technology are crucial to the Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science & Technology’s (OCAST) mission. We’re excited to share that XploSafe, a longtime partner of OCAST, was recognized this month in the 2021 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for creating an adsorbent material that can remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from man-made bodies of water like aquariums, pools or ponds.

XploSafe was one of five finalists for the award, which honors top contributions to the field of green and environmentally friendly chemistry for small businesses across the U.S.

The material, called PhosRox, consists of mixed metal oxide nanocomposite beads that remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from water. It can also be used as a fertilizer that releases the adsorbed nitrogen and phosphorus into soil to help crops grow. XploSafe developed PhosRox over the years based on research in both EPA- and OCAST-funded projects.

The company also makes products to detect hazardous chemicals and explosives. Initiatives like PhosRox are an important investment in Oklahoma’s agricultural and environmental future — and our nation’s future.

EPA Green Chemistry Challenge Awards winners have collectively reduced the use of hazardous chemicals and solvents by hundreds of millions of pounds over the years, and have helped reduce water use and air pollution as well. We at OCAST are proud to support small businesses like XploSafe that are making strides in science and technology that will benefit Americans for years to come.