Bio-inspired nanocomposite materials applicable in environmental remediation

工业过程（例如，沥青提取、化石燃料燃烧、矿物开采、化学制造等）造成了一些严重的环境问题，例如，温室气体排放、废水产生、尾矿堆积、土壤污染等。新兴的新型纳米复合材料对于解决这些问题非常有希望，其将结合有高表面体积比纳米级特征的联合收割机无机和/或有机化合物结合，并提供显著的物理和化学性质。大量的研究工作致力于开发适用于废水处理/修复的纳米复合材料。然而，尽管付出了巨大的努力，设计和生产具有成本效益的纳米复合材料在废水处理仍然是一个重大的科学挑战。通过纳米尺度探针对界面特性和相互作用力的基本理解将指导废水修复材料的开发。使用生态友好的方法合成纳米复合材料，最大限度地使用有毒化学品是另一个科学挑战。大自然为绿色材料的灵感提供了一所学校，例如，贻贝在湍流海洋中的粘附和生存能力揭示了多巴胺在新型和绿色纳米复合材料开发中的重要性。 该计划旨在了解适用于废水修复的生物启发纳米复合材料的基本相互作用机制，并探索生物启发，绿色和形态可控的自下而上的合成途径，以在纳米复合材料中生长纳米颗粒。在拟议的研究计划中，我将：（i）在微米和纳米尺度上开发技术，并采用直接的纳米尺度相互作用力探针;（ii）向自然界学习，开发仿生合成途径和仿生纳米复合材料。长期目标是设计和开发适用于能源和环境的新材料/技术，如提高石油采收率，废水处理，尾矿沉降增强，排放控制等。近期目标是设计和开发生物启发的纳米复合材料，预计将高效，生物相容性，生物可降解性和成本效益的废水修复。 主要成果将是开发生物启发的绿色复合材料，具有增强的功能和改善的环境概况，适用于加拿大的能源和环境，特别是油砂工艺影响的水的修复。参加该计划的高素质人员将获得材料科学/工程，纳米技术，水化学等跨学科技能，此外，他们将获得学术和工业知识和经验，可以加强阿尔伯塔和加拿大的废水处理管理。

Industrial processes (e.g., bitumen extraction, fossil fuel combustion, mineral exploitation, chemical manufacturing, etc.) have caused some serious environmental issues, e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, wastewater generating, tailings accumulation, soil contamination, etc. Emerging novel nanocomposite materials are very promising for resolving these problems, which combine inorganic and/or organic compounds incorporated with high-surface-to-volume-ratio nanoscale features, and provide remarkable physical and chemical properties. Significant research efforts have been devoted to the development of nanocomposites applicable in wastewater treatment/remediation. However, despite great efforts, the design and producing of cost-effective nanocomposites in wastewater treatment still remains a major scientific challenge. A basic understanding of interfacial characteristics and interaction forces by nano-scale probes will guide the material development in wastewater remediation. Using eco-friendly approaches to synthesize nanocomposites with minimal use of toxic chemicals is another scientific challenge. Nature provides a school for green material inspiration, e.g., the adhesion and survival capability of mussels in turbulent sea unveils the importance of dopamine in novel and green nanocomposite materials development. The proposed program is to understand fundamental interaction mechanisms in bio-inspired nanocomposites applicable in wastewater remediation and to explore bio-inspired, green and morphology-controllable bottom-up synthetic pathways to grow nanoparticles in nanocomposites. In the proposed research program, I will: (i) develop techniques at micro- and nano-scale and employ direct nano-scale interaction force probes; (ii) learn from nature and develop biomimetic synthetic pathways and biomimetic nanocomposites. The long-term goal is to design and develop novel materials/technologies applicable in energy and environment, such as oil recovery improvement, wastewater treatment, tailings settling enhancement, emission controls, etc. The near-term goal is to design and develop bio-inspired nanocomposite materials which are expected to be highly efficient, biocompatible, biodegradable and cost-effective for wastewater remediation. The major outcomes will be development of bio-inspired green composite materials with enhanced functionality and improved environmental profiles applicable in energy and environment of Canada, especially the remediation of oil sands process affected water. The highly qualified personnel participating in this program will obtain interdisciplinary skills in materials science/engineering, nanotechnology, water chemistry, etc., also they will obtain academic and industrial knowledge and experience that can strengthen Alberta's and Canada's wastewater treatment management.