Carus Chemical Company, is the world's largest maker of potassium
permanganate, which Carus manufactures mainly for environmental applications: to
improve the quality of drinking water, to treat municipal and industrial
wastewater, in air purification systems, and in the remediation (clean-up) of
contaminated sites. The company was founded in 1915 by Dr. Edward Hegeler Carus,
who first performed experiments with the chemical while an undergraduate at the
University of Wisconsin. When World War I in Europe threatened foreign supplies
of potassium permanganate to the United States, Edward Carus saw an opportunity
and he began production in barns located on the site of what is now Carus
Chemical's LaSalle manufacturing facility. Carus Chemical is a member of the
American Chemistry Council and is an active participant in the industry's
award-winning Responsible Care(r) initiative, working to make life better,
healthier, and safer through chemistry.
A goal of the Carus Chemical Company is to increase the interests of local
children in careers in science, technology, and engineering. Carus is involved
in SWEPT (Scientific Work Experience Programs for Teachers), and sponsors a
summer Science Camp for kids. Along with the SWEPT teachers, Carus employees
volunteer to act as guides to help the young campers with the experiments and
games. Carus Chemical's educational outreach efforts are also aided by the
Chemical Educational Foundation, which provides "You Be The Chemist" kits and
assists with suggestions for hands-on experiments that teachers can use in the
classroom to spark their students' interests in science. This year, Carus
Chemical Company will be the host of the pilot program for the "You Be The
Chemist" Challenge, a Jeopardy-like competition for junior high science
students. In addition to myriad educational and community outreach programs,
Carus Chemical employees bring science to local schools through annual Classroom
Chemistry demonstrations, scheduled to coincide with the American Chemical
Society's National Chemistry Week. |
