What if yesterday’s tea could power tomorrow’s batteries? We are proud to recognize Sian Che of Dana Hall School as the 2026 Massachusetts Chemistry & Technology Alliance Chemistry Excellence Award recipient.
Sian's project, Esterified Tea Waste Hard Carbon for Sodium-Ion Batteries, reimagines how waste materials can be transformed into high-performance energy solutions.
As demand grows for more sustainable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, Sian explored the potential of tea waste as a low-cost, scalable source for battery materials. By chemically modifying tea-derived carbon, she developed an anode material that improves performance, stability, and efficiency—while also advancing more environmentally friendly production methods.
Judges praised the project for its depth, technical rigor, and creativity, highlighting both the high-level analysis and the impressive journey from early experimentation to fully functional battery development.
As one judge noted, “Loved the evolution from baking to batteries—true innovation.”
This award is made possible through the support of the Massachusetts Chemistry & Technology Alliance (MCTA), the voice for the manufacturers, users & distributors of chemistry in the Commonwealth. Thank you MCTA FOR recognizing and encouraging outstanding student achievement in chemistry.
Congratulations, Sian, on an innovative and impactful achievement. hashtag
#MassScienceFair hashtag#MSEF
William “Billy” Pitman has been named Executive Director of the Massachusetts Chemistry & Technology Alliance (MCTA), MCTA Board Chair Adam Diamond has announced. Pitman replaces Katherine Robertson who is stepping down after more than a decade with the organization.
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MCTA held its annual meeting program on February 12th at the Publick House in Sturbridge. Attendees had high praise for the speakers as well as the program content. The brownies were really tasty and, as always, the reception that followed was a lot of fun.
For those who could not make the meeting, we have put our slides up here. Please let me know if you want to an additional information or want contact information for the speakers.
Session 1: Legislative & Regulatory Update: What is happening in Massachusetts and the Region and what to expect in the future.
Session 2: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Circular Economy: What do these terms mean and why our industry should pay attention
Session 3: Catching Up on Air & Water Activities
And Thank you to our sponsors: Pennoni, QNity, ACC, ACD, Astro, GZA, Tighe & Bond, Trinity and the Vinyl Institute
MCTA's January 21st program provided an overview of proposed changes to EPA's stormwater discharge permits. The seminar covered EPA's draft MSPG and CII Permits, both of which are open for public comment.
MCTA's TURA Reform bill has been filed in both the House and Senate for consideration during the 2025-2026 session. SD 888, filed by Senator Ryan Fattman of Sutton and HD 1716 filed by Rep. John Mahoney of Worcester call for:
MCTA will be holding a members briefing to discuss this and other bills filed for the upcoming session on Tuesday, February 11, at 11 am.
Presentations:
PFAS & Industry: The Present & the Future
MCTA's November 15th Program at the Publick House in Sturbridge focused on PFAS, the status of state and federal regulations, and what industry can expect moving forward. Speakers for the first session, facilitated by Jeff Porter, Chair of the Environmental Law Practice at Mintz, were John Beling, Deputy Commissioner, Policy and Planning, MassDEP and Analisa Puzzanghero, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Alliance for Chemical Distribution. Speakers for the second session, moderated by Emilee Mooney Scott, Partner, Robinson + Cole, were Robert Rio, RAR Strategies and MCTA's Legislative & Regulatory Advisor; Shawn Swearingen, Director of Chemical Products & Technology, and Heather Tenney, TURA Program Manager.
John Beling, MassDEP; Analisa Puzzanghero, ACD (formerly NACD); and Jeff Porter, Mintz
Robert Rio, RAR Strategies; Heather Tenney, TURI; Shawn Swearingen, American Chemistry Council; Emilee Mooney Scott, Robinson + Cole
Bob Rio is coming to MCTA after spending 26 years at Associated industries of Massachusetts (AIM). While at AIM, he was heavily involved on advocacy efforts on regulations, bills and laws impacting the chemical industry in the Commonwealth. That list includes, but is not limited to, PFAS and Flame Retardants, Climate Change, Air Permitting, Environmental Justice, Producer Responsibility, TURA and TURA fees. Rio has also established himself as a respected expert on energy-related issues including energy efficiency, gas and electric issues and alternative energy, such as hydrogen and RNG. He has authored and presented hundreds of testimonies and public comments for legislative hearings and regulatory proceedings on these and other topics.
With more than 30 years of experience navigating complex and detailed legislative and regulatory issues, a well-earned reputation with regulators and legislators, and an educational background that encompasses science, engineering, and law degrees, he can support MCTA's advocacy with persuasive complex comments to regulatory agencies (DEP, EOEEA, DOER, DPS), legislative testimony, and the development of overall effective strategy. Rio earned his BA in Biology from Boston University, a MS in Engineering from Northeastern University, and his JD from Suffolk University Law School 1994.
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