{"id":10199,"date":"2024-12-09T16:45:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecm.eng.auburn.edu\/wp\/emag\/?p=10199"},"modified":"2024-12-10T21:09:26","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T21:09:26","slug":"chemical-reimagining-sustainable-development-of-plastic-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecm.eng.auburn.edu\/wp\/emag\/?p=10199","title":{"rendered":"Chemical: Reimagining sustainable development of plastic materials"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From left, Zhihua Jiang, the Auburn Pulp and Paper Associate Professor in chemical engineering, Symone Alexander, assistant professor in chemical engineering, and Selen Cremaschi, the B. Redd & Susan W. Redd Professor and chemical engineering chair.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mismanaged micro- and nano-plastics can threaten the health and environment. Three researchers in Auburn University\u2019s Department of Chemical Engineering \u2014 Assistant Professor Symone Alexander, Department Chair Selen Cremaschi and Associate Professor Zhihua Jiang \u2014 offer solutions that could reimagine the sustainable development of plastic materials; address plastic waste challenges and its climate\/health impacts; and build community climate resilience while advancing social and environmental justice in Mississippi and Alabama.<\/p>\n

Their multi-disciplinary study, \u201cAdvancing social and environmental equity through plastics research: education, innovation and inclusion\u201d (ASPIRE), is a collaborative effort with researchers from the University of Southern Mississippi, and part of a four-year, $4 million National Science Foundation \u2014 Department of Energy Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research R-II Track-2 grant. These grants are awarded to researchers looking to advance climate change research and resilience capacity to expand opportunities for disproportionately affected communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve heard of islands of trash in the ocean, but what we don\u2019t see are micro- and nano-plastics,\u201d said Alexander, Auburn\u2019s principal investigator (PI).<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are the very small particles that can easily be ingested by fish and marine animals, which we, as humans, ingest. This can lead to bioaccumulation that can cause other health issues which aren\u2019t well studied.\u201d<\/p>\n

ASPIRE will develop advanced detection methods to analyze microplastic contamination in field and aquaculture samples, utilize novel methods to extend the lifespan and improve the performance of recycled products for sustained use and design recyclable polymer thermosets using sustainable, bio-derived building blocks to establish chemistry-structureproperty relationships.<\/p>\n

They also want to address the lack of recyclable materials known as thermosets, like rubber and epoxy, which cannot be melted and formed into new materials after use.<\/p>\n

How? With dynamic compatibilizers and lignin, an organic polymer found in plants that Alexander considers, \u201cthe glue that holds cellulose together.\u201d In this case, lignin can be used to hold materials \u2014 such as plastics \u2014 together.<\/p>\n

As a co-PI on the project, Cremaschi focuses on design optimization to assess economic feasibility and improve the competitiveness of the team\u2019s proposed solutions to the problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur role \u2014 working with collaborators \u2014 is to perform a techno-economic analysis to assess competitiveness of our proposed solutions among each other and against existing technologies,\u201d she said. \u201cOnce we have the models in place for simulation of the processes, then we quickly study different processes to improve the technoeconomic competitiveness of our solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jiang, director of the Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering, will serve as a senior personnel on the project and brings his vast understanding of lignin and experience in lignin separation to identify efficient lignin extraction processes.<\/p>\n

Other ASPIRE thrusts include technology transfer and educational components in Mississippi and Alabama.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will both be working with industry partners for technology transfer, but we also want to showcase the latest technologies for these coastal communities,\u201d Alexander added, citing the Gulf Blue Initiative, a University of Southern Mississippi program which \u201cpools the knowledge of research scientists, federal agencies, industry partners and entrepreneurs to further develop the region as a global leader in ocean- and maritime-related technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alexander is excited to make an impact on industry, society and health.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of these health concerns affect people who look like me, or who come from a similar economic background,\u201d she said. \u201cThey don\u2019t always receive the same level of rigorous filtration when it comes to treating drinking water, or when it comes to addressing the lack of employment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s extremely important to me because communities that aren\u2019t well served in terms of city planning, drinking water or availability of resources suffer most from health impacts related to pollution. A large part of this project is leading more in-depth studies on the impact of plastic pollution on waterways and health of coastal communities in Mississippi and Alabama.\u201d<\/p>\n

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