SusChEM: Sustainable Polymeric Materials Based on Catalytic Transformation of Renewable Resources

在这个由化学部大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目资助的项目中，宾夕法尼亚州立大学新肯辛顿分校的Robert Mathers将研究从可再生生物基分子合成聚合物的途径，这些分子也显示出可调的物理特性和多种降解模式。 首先，原子有效反应的组合将被连接在一起以从生物基试剂合成单体。 然后，单体将使用自由基化学进行聚合，并对所得聚合物进行表征。 该项目的更广泛影响包括针对初中和高中学生开发一个关于可持续性、可再生资源的使用、材料的物理特性和化学反应等主题的教学模块。 该模块允许学生通过制备基于甘油和柠檬酸的可降解和无毒聚合物来体验可持续材料的概念。塑料是长链有机分子，存在于日常生活的许多方面，包括食品包装，汽车和航空航天运输的结构材料以及轻质电子设备。 目前，塑料主要来自石油资源。 这项研究的重点是开发基于生物衍生原料的塑料可持续合成路线。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Robert Mathers of the Pennsylvania State University at New Kensington will study pathways to synthesize polymers from renewable bio-based molecules that also display tunable physical properties and multiple modes of degradation. First, combinations of atom efficient reactions will be linked together to synthesize monomers from bio-based reagents. Then, the monomers will be polymerized using free-radical chemistry and the resulting polymers will be characterized. The broader impacts of the project involve developing a teaching module targeted towards middle and high school students on the topics of sustainability, the use of renewable resources, physical properties of materials, and chemical reactions. This module allows students to experience the concept of a sustainable material through the preparation of a degradable and non-toxic polymer based on glycerol and citric acid. Plastics are long chain organic molecules and are found in many facets of everyday life, including food packaging, structural materials for automotive and aerospace transportation, and lightweight electronic devices. At present, plastics are derived predominantly from petroleum based resources. This research focuses on developing sustainable synthetic routes into plastics based upon bio-derived feedstocks.