ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥

Title: Biopolymer-Based Functional Nanocomposites from Agricultural Residues and Forest Wastes for Smart Packaging Applications

• Summary: The smart packaging market is driven by continually increasing demand for improving health, safety and authenticity in food and beverage, health care, personal care and other industries in the last decades. This research aims to develop innovative processes to produce biopolymer-based functional nanocomposites from agricultural residues and/or forest wastes for smart packaging applications. Compared to conventional packaging materials, bio-based nanocomposites are sustainable and have less environmental impacts because of the uses of renewable, readily available, biodegradable and inexpensive biomass feedstocks and innovative technologies. Successfully developing such processes will not only improve the viability of biorefinery but also help to address the issues caused by fossil fuel depletion, national energy security and climate change.
• Contact: Lin Wei

Title: Biochar-Based Smart Control Release Fertilizers to Improve Sustainability of Precision Agriculture

• Summary: This research aims to develop smart biochar-based controlled-release fertilizer technologies to increase fertilizer use efficiency while minimizing nutrient loss into air or leaching into water to improve agriculture sustainability. Successfully developing and commercializing such technologies will significantly enhance cost effectiveness and sustainability of agricultural production for food safety and security, soil health and water resource and water quality protection.
• Contact: Lin Wei

Title: Coating 2D Materials on Metal Surface for Inhibition of Biofilm Formation through Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition

• Summary: Bacterial cell attachment and subsequent formation of biofilms on surfaces of equipment have caused a loss of billions of dollars in many industries every year. Biofilms represent a ubiquitous and predominant cause of biocorrosion and/or clogging both outside and inside surfaces of pipelines in oil and gas refinery, food processing and medical devices. This research aims to develop an effective plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process to prevent and eradicate biofilm on surfaces of metal materials while minimizing waste generation and environmental impact. Successfully developing such technology will help not only with improving the lifetime of industrial equipment and maximizing economic returns of production but also in reducing the loss caused by biocorrosion and biofouling in the industries.
• Contact: Lin Wei