Bio-inspired nanocomposite materials applicable in environmental remediation

工业流程(例如，沥青提炼、化石燃料燃烧、矿产开采、化学制造等)新兴的纳米复合材料是解决这些问题的一种非常有前途的新型材料，它结合了具有高表面体积比纳米特征的无机和/或有机化合物，并提供了显著的物理和化学性质。人们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，但设计和生产具有成本效益的纳米复合材料用于废水处理仍然是一个重大的科学挑战。通过对纳米探针界面特性和相互作用力的基本了解，将指导废水修复材料的发展。使用环保的方法来合成纳米复合材料，最大限度地减少有毒化学品的使用，是另一个科学挑战。大自然为绿色材料的灵感提供了一个学校，例如，贻贝在汹涌的海洋中的粘附性和生存能力揭示了多巴胺在新型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，在纳米复合材料中生长纳米粒子。在拟议的研究计划中，我将：(I)发展微米和纳米级的技术，并使用直接的纳米级相互作用力探测器；(Ii)向自然学习，开发仿生合成路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，这些材料有望成为高效、生物兼容、可生物降解和成本效益高的废水修复材料。 主要成果将是开发具有增强功能的生物灵感绿色复合材料，并改善适用于加拿大能源和环境的环境状况，特别是修复受油砂工艺影响的水。参加该项目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，他们还将获得学术和工业知识和经验，以加强艾伯塔省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.