NanoScale Corporation

NanoScale Corporation was a privately held United States materials-science company founded in 1995 in Manhattan, Kansas, by Dr. Kenneth J. Klabunde. It was established to develop and commercialize intellectual property associated with Kansas State University. The business initially operated as Nantek, Inc., changed its name to NanoScale Materials, Inc. in January 2001, and was reincorporated as a Delaware corporation under the name NanoScale Corporation in July 2007. The company’s work centered on nanocrystalline metal oxides and other engineered materials. It developed powders, granules, suspensions, sorbents, catalysts, and related formulations intended to react with or capture unwanted chemical compounds. Its application areas included odor neutralization, hazardous-chemical decontamination, industrial gas treatment, and environmental remediation. The company’s technology portfolio connected laboratory-scale materials research with commercial products and government-sponsored development programs. NanoScale served a mixture of private-sector, commercial, and government customers. Its government research included multiple Small Business Innovation Research projects associated with the United States Army and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The work covered chemical-agent decontamination, field-use wipes, acid-gas treatment, fuel-gas purification, and high-temperature treatment of compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and potentially mercury-containing streams. These programs reflected the company’s positioning as an applied nanotechnology developer rather than a general-purpose consumer brand. Products and technologies associated with NanoScale included FAST-ACT decontamination technology, OdorKlenz odor-elimination products, and Nano-Zorb. FAST-ACT was discussed in military and first-response contexts and was further developed for decontamination and residue-removal wipes. OdorKlenz and Nano-Zorb represented commercial applications of the company’s reactive materials for odor management and absorption or neutralization. NanoScale also collaborated with affiliated scientists on technical papers and publications concerning materials science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. The company received recognition from several technology and economic-development organizations, including the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, the National Science Foundation, Popular Mechanics, the Kansas BioScience Organization, and the Kansas Department of Commerce. It was also identified as a finalist for Kansas Governor’s Exporter of the Year. Despite its research and commercialization activities, NanoScale ultimately ceased operations following a wire-fraud matter. The available reference material does not provide sufficient detail to establish the precise chronology, individuals involved, legal disposition, or financial consequences of that matter. NanoScale is therefore best understood historically as a defunct Kansas-based advanced-materials and applied-nanotechnology company.

NanoScale Corporation originated in 1995 as Nantek, Inc., a company founded in Manhattan, Kansas, by Dr. Kenneth J. Klabunde. The founding purpose was to move selected Kansas State University intellectual property toward commercial development. This origin gave the enterprise a close relationship to academic research in chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology. In January 2001, the company adopted the name NanoScale Materials, Inc. The change reflected a more explicit emphasis on nanoscale materials and their commercial applications. During this period, the company developed materials based primarily on nanocrystalline metal oxides. These materials were designed to provide high reactivity or high surface area, allowing them to neutralize odors, react with hazardous chemicals, or serve as sorbents and catalysts in industrial processes. The company’s activities expanded beyond basic research into product development and government contracting. NanoScale worked with commercial customers as well as government agencies, including the United States Army and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Its Small Business Innovation Research projects addressed a range of uses: field decontamination after chemical exposure, specialized wipes for personnel, treatment of acid gases, purification of hot fuel gases, and catalytic or sorbent approaches for compounds including hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and possibly mercury. These projects positioned the company within the applied-defense, environmental-engineering, and industrial-cleanup sectors. NanoScale also commercialized or supported consumer and professional applications. FAST-ACT became associated with rapid response and decontamination uses, including military and first-responder scenarios. The company’s technology was further investigated for residue-free and decontamination wipes. OdorKlenz and Nano-Zorb applied related materials to odor elimination and absorption or neutralization. The company’s product base included metal-oxide powders, granules, and suspensions rather than conventional finished consumer goods alone. The company’s research community produced or supported scientific publications in materials science, chemistry, and advanced nanotechnology. Its work was also recognized by technology, science, and regional economic-development organizations. Reported distinctions included recognition from the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, a National Science Foundation-related award, a Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award, a Tibbetts Award, a Kansas BioScience Organization award, and a Kansas Department of Commerce Merit Award. NanoScale was also reported as a finalist for Kansas Governor’s Exporter of the Year. In July 2007, the business was reincorporated in Delaware under its current name, NanoScale Corporation. The available reference material does not state whether the reincorporation involved a change in ownership, management, or operating location. It later closed following a wire-fraud matter. No reliable details are supplied in the reference material concerning the alleged conduct, defendants, court proceedings, or final disposition. Accordingly, the company’s endpoint can be recorded as closure associated with wire fraud, while the legal and financial specifics remain unresolved.

• 2007

  Reincorporated as NanoScale Corporation

  [1]NanoScale Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The business was reincorporated as a Delaware corporation under the NanoScale Corporation name in July.

• 2001

  Company renamed NanoScale Materials, Inc.

  [1]NanoScale Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its name from Nantek, Inc. to NanoScale Materials, Inc. in January.

• 1995

  Nantek, Inc. founded in Manhattan, Kansas

  [1]NanoScale Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Kenneth J. Klabunde founded Nantek, Inc. to develop and commercialize selected Kansas State University intellectual property.

• Development of government-sponsored remediation technologies

  [1]NanoScale Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  NanoScale conducted Army and EPA-supported research involving decontamination wipes, acid-gas treatment, fuel-gas cleanup, sorbents, and catalysts.

• Company closed following wire-fraud matter

  [1]NanoScale Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The company ultimately ceased operations in circumstances associated with wire fraud, although the available material does not specify the legal details.

Applied nanotechnology and advanced-materials developer focused on reactive metal-oxide systems for odor control, chemical decontamination, industrial gas cleanup, and environmental remediation.

• Chemical decontamination

  FAST-ACT

  FAST-ACT was a NanoScale-associated reactive-material technology intended for rapid response to hazardous chemical contamination. It was discussed in military and first-responder applications and was further developed for decontamination wipes, residue-free wipes, and related field-use formats. The technology illustrates NanoScale’s effort to translate nanocrystalline metal-oxide chemistry into portable emergency and defense products.

• Odor neutralization

  OdorKlenz

  OdorKlenz was a commercial odor-elimination application associated with NanoScale’s reactive materials. Rather than relying solely on fragrance masking, the product concept used engineered metal-oxide materials to capture or neutralize odor-causing compounds. It represented the consumer and commercial side of the company’s broader materials platform.

• Absorbent and remediation materials

  Nano-Zorb

  Nano-Zorb was identified as a commercial odor-elimination product associated with NanoScale. It used nanoscale or nanostructured materials for absorption or chemical treatment of unwanted compounds. The product formed part of the company’s portfolio of practical environmental and odor-management applications.

• Environmental remediation

  Industrial sorbents and catalysts

  NanoScale developed zinc-oxide-based sorbents, supported copper-oxide materials, and nickel-based catalysts for government-supported hot fuel-gas and acid-gas cleanup research. Target compounds included hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and potentially mercury. These materials were principally research and engineering offerings rather than a single standardized consumer product line.

• Closure following wire-fraud matter

  The reference article reports that NanoScale Corporation closed down following wire fraud. It does not identify the alleged actors, provide a court citation, or describe the ultimate legal outcome, so the event cannot be characterized in greater detail.

  Source

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• 2007

  Reincorporation as NanoScale CorporationStrategy

  Background

  The company had developed a portfolio spanning nanomaterials research, government projects, and commercial remediation products.

  Action taken

  The business was reincorporated in Delaware in July 2007 under the name NanoScale Corporation.

  Aftermath

  The company continued operating under the NanoScale Corporation name until it later closed following a wire-fraud matter.

  Source

• 2001

  Adoption of the NanoScale Materials nameStrategy

  Background

  The original company, Nantek, Inc., was pursuing commercialization of university-derived materials technology.

  Action taken

  The company changed its name to NanoScale Materials, Inc. in January 2001, emphasizing its nanoscale materials research and commercialization focus.

  Aftermath

  The renamed company continued developing nanocrystalline metal oxides and related applications for commercial, environmental, and government customers.

  Source

• NanoScale technologies received recognition from technology and economic-development organizations[1]NanoScale Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company was recognized through awards and distinctions associated with the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation, the National Science Foundation, Popular Mechanics, the Kansas BioScience Organization, and the Kansas Department of Commerce.

1. 1NanoScale Corporationen.wikipedia.org