Research – NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers https://csp.umn.edu Transforming the way plastics are made and unmade Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:27:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://csp.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cropped-CSP-Icon-32x32.png Research – NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers https://csp.umn.edu 32 32 Sunlight may help PLA waste degrade https://csp.umn.edu/2023/12/01/sunlight-may-help-pla-waste-degrade/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 13:56:01 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=27770 CSP investigator Melissa Maurer-Jones and her team have recently conducted research aimed to identify whether PLA undergoes changes in its structure when weathered, as might occur during usage or environmental disposal, and how such changes could impact enzyme-mediated polymer breakdown. The study revealed that UV-light weathering actually enhances enzyme breakdown of PLA, contrary to the initial prediction, which assumed that UV-light would make the polymer too crystalline to facilitate enzyme breakdown. The observed effect is likely attributed to the reduction in the molecular weight of the polymer.

The increasing demand for environmentally friendly bioplastics is leading to a rise in waste generated from these products. PLA, as the predominant commercially available bioplastic, is extensively utilized in single-use items such as cutlery and plastic bags.

The full paper is available on ACS Materials Au.

]]> Låkril Technologies Featured on C&En https://csp.umn.edu/2023/10/26/lakril-technologies-featured-on-cen/ Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:41:14 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=27717 Låkril Technologies, a start-up created in 2021 in collaboration with CSP Investigator Paul Dauenhauer, is planning to open a pilot plant by the end of next year. Låkril catalytically converts biobased lactates, such as methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, and lactic acid, into acrylic acid. The story was featured on Chemical and Engineering News (C&En) this week, alongside other initiatives exploring biobased production of acrylic acid.

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]]> Phos Technology Launches to Detect Early Stages of Plastic Degradation https://csp.umn.edu/2023/10/26/phos-technology-launches-to-detect-early-stages-of-plastic-degradation/ Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:41:00 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=27714 CSP Investigator Melissa Maurer-Jones, alongside Professor Brian Hinderliter of the University of Minnesota–Duluth Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and Dr. Margaret Elmer-Dixon have launched Phos Technology, an imaging initiative that detects early stage degradation of plastics.

The team has designed a system that consists of a portable device and image-processing software for tracking the degradation of plastics. This rapid, non-intrusive, and portable solution offers a potentially cost-efficient and replicable method for monitoring the deterioration of polyethylene and polypropylene materials.

It utilizes Nile Red as a fluorescent probe, with shifts in fluorescence spectra corresponding to chemical and physical changes in the plastics.These shifts are influenced by the type of polymer but are not affected by the thickness of the polymer film.

The image-processing software establishes a connection between the changes in fluorescence spectra and a carbonyl index, which is employed to characterize the plastics. This technology boasts various applications, such as predicting maintenance needs for plastic components and enhancing plastic sorting processes to advance recycling efforts.

]]> 2023 CSP Summer Undergraduate Research Program Concludes in August https://csp.umn.edu/2023/08/11/2023-csp-summer-undergraduate-research-program-concludes-in-august/ Fri, 11 Aug 2023 12:00:56 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=27542 The Center for Sustainable Polymers has successfully concluded its 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Since 2012, the yearly program offers opportunities for undergraduates students to participate in research under the advisory of CSP investigators.

This year’s program welcomed 14 undergraduate students who immersed themselves in laboratory projects in the Hillmyer, Hoye, Bates, Tonks, Reineke, Xiong, Lamb, and Calabrese labs, from the University of Minnesota, Alibi, Fors, and Coates labs, from Cornell University, and Rowan lab, from the University of Chicago.

Students delved into designing and implementing polymers derived from renewable sources for a more sustainable future. The program not only offers valuable research exposure but also provides a platform for participants to showcase their findings during a CSP meeting and an undergraduate research expo, embodying the Center’s commitment to environmental stewardship, economic development, and energy efficiency.

Congratulations 2023 Summer Undergraduates!

]]> Rachel Rapagnani awarded Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship https://csp.umn.edu/2023/08/05/rachel-rapagnani-awarded-doctoral-dissertation-fellowship/ Sat, 05 Aug 2023 12:48:03 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=27499 CSP graduate student Rachel Rapagnani has been awarded the 2023-24 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships (DDF) from the University of Minnesota. The DDF recognizes Rachel’s dedication and potential in contributing to sustainable advancements in the field of chemistry.

A fourth year graduate student in the Tonks Group, Rachel’s research interests include the synthesis of sustainable polymers derived from waste feedstocks. Her DDF statement titled “Synthesis of Recyclable and Biodegradable Polyesters from Carbon Dioxide and Butadiene” outlines her current work on the ring-opening copolymerization of CO2 and a CO2-derived monomer. Additionally, she is collaborating on a project centered around the rearrangement of polymer backbones.

Read more on this story by visiting the CSE Website.

Congratulations Rachel!

]]> Researchers discover catalyst to make renewable paints, coatings, and diapers https://csp.umn.edu/2023/01/09/researchers-discover-catalyst-to-make-renewable-paints-coatings-and-diapers/ Mon, 09 Jan 2023 17:13:08 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=26898 A team of researchers supported by the CSP and lead by Investigator Paul Dauenhauer have invented a groundbreaking new catalyst technology that converts renewable materials like trees and corn to the key chemicals, acrylic acid, and acrylates used in paints, coatings, and superabsorbent polymers. The new catalyst technology is also highly efficient, which means lower costs for manufacturing renewable chemicals.

The new catalyst formulation converts lactic acid-based chemicals derived from corn to acrylic acid and acrylates with the highest yield achieved to date. The technology exhibits substantially higher performance when benchmarked against other classes of leading catalysts. “Our new catalyst formulation discovery achieves the highest yield to date of acrylic acid from lactic acid,” said Paul Dauenhauer. “We benchmarked the performance of our new catalyst to all prior catalysts, and the performance far exceeds previous examples.” The research is published online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society Gold (JACS Au), a leading open access journal of the American Chemical Society.

The economic opportunity generated by the new catalyst is being pursued by Låkril Technologies, a startup company launched in 2021 by Paul Dauenhauer and Chris Nicholas that aims to manufacture low-cost renewable acrylic acid and acrylates. By licensing the catalyst technology from the University of Minnesota, Låkril Technologies will develop the technology beyond the laboratory.

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]]> Professor Jessica Lamb awarded thrice for catalysis research https://csp.umn.edu/2022/11/18/professor-jessica-lamb-awarded-thrice-for-catalysis-research/ Fri, 18 Nov 2022 21:25:40 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=26795 CSP Investigator Jessica Lamb has been recognized three times so far in 2022 for her catalysis research and impact as a non-tenured faculty member at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

  • May – Lamb was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for her research on latent NHC organocatalysis by the Division of Chemistry’s Disciplinary Research Programs (CHE-DRP).
  • July – Lamb was awarded the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (NTFA). The award intends to help promising faculty receive tenure and contribute to their academic field.
  • October – Lamb’s research was recognized for a third time from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (ACS PRF). ACS PRF grants support new, fundamental research directly related to petroleum or fossil fuels.

Congratulations Investigator Lamb! Read the full news story from the University of Minnesota. Visit the Lamb Group website for more information on this reasearch.

]]> CSP Research Published in ACS Materials Letters https://csp.umn.edu/2022/08/01/csp-research-published-in-acs-materials-letters/ Mon, 01 Aug 2022 10:30:03 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=26333 New CSP research from current and former members of the Dichtel group demonstrates a new scalable method to produce MOF/textile composites that showed efficient and rapid decontamination of a nerve agent simulant. These composites show great promise in textiles as protective layers.

Read the full article.

]]> CSP research published in Chemical Science https://csp.umn.edu/2022/07/01/new-csp-research-published-in-chemical-science/ Fri, 01 Jul 2022 19:15:56 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=26248

CSP researcher and lead author Mayuri Porwal discusses her latest published work in Chemical Science, Stereoregular functionalized polysaccharides via cationic ring-opening polymerization of biomass-derived levoglucosan, in this CSP publication preview.

Check out more Publication Previews on the CSP YouTube Channel.

]]> Chemical researchers invent bio-petroleum for sustainable materials https://csp.umn.edu/2021/11/23/chemical-researchers-invent-bio-petroleum-for-sustainable-materials/ Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:14:43 +0000 https://csp.umn.edu/?p=25169 Led by CSP Investigators Michelle Chang and Paul Dauenhauer, researchers have developed a two-step pathway to produce petroleum-like liquids from renewable materials, such as glucose.

The hybrid approach combines fermentation and chemical synthesis, and it has the benefit of competing economically with conventional products derived from fossil fuels, while also improving sustainability. Technologies were integrated to find the lowest-energy and lowest-cost processing techniques leading to the most overall efficient method of making chemicals.

“This advance from the NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers demonstrates a truly innovative, green entry into the building blocks for valuable polymers/plastics,” said NSF Chemistry Division Director David Berkowitz. “By cleverly combining biology and chemistry, the Chang team has opened a new, potential bio-renewable alternative to petroleum cracking. These results showcase how NSF investments in collaborative, interdisciplinary science can push the envelope toward developing more sustainable chemical industries.”

These renewable liquids could serve as a more sustainable replacement for today’s fossil fuels used to make everyday products like plastic containers and bags, automobile parts, lubricants, and soaps.

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Image credit: John Beumer, NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers

 

 

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