I-Corps: Next Generation of Green and Sustainable Biofillers

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是从虾壳等生物质废物中一步制备一种特殊类别的材料--甲壳素纳米薄膜。该制备过程通过使用高稳定性的环境友好溶剂取代目前用于重新利用生物质废物的沸腾酸而证明了更高的安全性。该工艺还消除了酸性废物的处置，减少了放大问题，并将生产成本降至最低。这些材料具有独特的商业机会，因为它们具有机械强度，是制备高性能塑料的合适添加剂。这项技术最终可能导致可持续发展的产品，如形成尼龙的高端塑料。这个i-Corps项目基于使用几丁质废料来制备甲壳素纳米薄膜，并随后使用这些材料来增强商品塑料的强度。具体地说，这项技术是一种通过用特定溶剂直接处理来获得甲壳素纳米薄膜的一步法。该工艺减少了所需的化学药剂，减少了工艺废物量，同时避免了处理甲壳素纳米薄膜传统制备过程中使用的沸腾酸性溶液的需要。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is a single-step preparation of a special class of materials, chitin nanofillers, from biomass waste such as shrimp shells. The preparation process demonstrates increased safety by utilizing environmentally friendly solvents of high stability in place of boiling acid, which is currently employed in repurposing biomass waste. The process also eliminates the disposal of acidic waste, reduces scale-up issues, and minimizes production costs. There is a unique commercial opportunity for these materials as they exhibit mechanical strength and are suitable additives for the preparation of high-performance plastics. This technology may ultimately result in sustainable products such as high-end plastics that form nylon.This I-Corps project is based on the use of chitinous waste to prepare chitin nanofillers and the subsequently use of these materials to impart strength in commodity plastics. Specifically, this technology is a one-step method for obtaining chitin nanofillers by direct treatment with a specific solvent. The process reduces the amount of chemicals required and decreases the volume of process waste while avoiding the need to handle the boiling acidic solutions that are used in traditional preparation of chitin nanofillers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.