Development Polysaccharide Materials with Tunable Physicochemical Properties

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INTRODUCTION: Adsorption processes are vital and ubiquitous in nature, and represent a fundamental step to many wide-ranging chemical applications. Adsorptive removal represents the least expensive and technically efficient method for the uptake and separation of chemical species in complex matrices such as aquatic environments. Adsorbent materials such as polysaccharide biopolymers are of considerable scientific and technological interest because their unique properties can be exploited to address a range of technological applications (e.g., environmental remediation, controlled release of pharmaceuticals, chemical separations, food processing). Synthetic modification of naturally occurring polysaccharides offers wide-ranging opportunities for incremental tuning of their molecular structure and functional properties. OBJECTIVES: The long-term goal of the proposed research is to develop polysaccharide-based sorbents with tunable properties and to gain a better understanding of the relationship between their molecular structure and sorption properties. To achieve this goal, the proposed research focuses on three short-term objectives: 1) the design and structural characterization of sorbent materials using a range of polysaccharide platforms and cross-linking agents, 2) characterization of the textural and isotherm properties of sorbent-guest systems using known methods, and 3) to determine the molecular level details of sorption processes for selected systems using multiple approaches (e.g., spectroscopic, thermodynamic, and kinetic studies) to establish a relationship between molecular structure and functional sorption properties of polysaccharides. IMPACT: This research program builds upon previous contributions in Wilson's research and the training of HQP. Trainees will explore new directions through advanced training and skills from the development of new types of polysaccharide materials and state-of-the-art studies of their properties. Along with strong contributions to fundamental science in the elucidation of structure-function relationships, this research contributes new knowledge and technological solutions to a wide range of technology applications; water remediation, health, advanced drug delivery, and biofuels processing. The demand for improved sorbent materials for catalysis and other sorbent-based applications is expected to continue well into the future. This research program will benefit Canada's economy and environmental sectors by solving diverse practical problems related to materials science, environmental science, and adsorption science and technology. The R&D of sorbent materials is relevant to academia, industry, and society whilst this research program provides advanced training and skills for HQP in relevant areas described in the Government of Canada's 2007 Science & Technology strategy.