Development of Advanced Functional Biopolymer Composites with Tunable Physicochemical Properties

前言：吸附过程在自然界中是重要的和普遍存在的，代表了化学转化的一个显著特征。吸附脱除是分离复杂基质中化学物种的最低成本和技术效率的方法。基于生物聚合物纳米复合材料的吸附材料具有相当大的科学和技术价值，因为它们的独特性质可以被用来解决一系列技术应用(例如，环境修复、药物载体系统、化学分离、食品加工)。自下而上的生物聚合物纳米复合材料的合成为其分子结构和功能特性的增量调整提供了广泛的机会。目的：本研究的长期目标是开发具有可调性能的生物材料基纳米复合材料，并更好地了解与其在水介质中的异相吸附性能相关的结构-功能关系。这一目标将集中于三个短期目标：1)通过自下而上的方法，使用各种平台生物聚合物合成生物聚合物纳米复合材料，2)使用已有的方法表征生物聚合物纳米复合材料的结构和物理化学性质，以及3)使用补充方法(例如，光谱、热力学和动力学研究)对选定的生物聚合物纳米复合材料体系的结构-功能特性进行系统研究，以加深对此类体系中的吸附现象的理解。这项研究将通过与长期目标相结合的三个平行专题项目进行：1)无机阴离子吸收，2)环烷酸物种和生物提取物的吸收，以及3)蒸汽和水的吸收特性。影响：该研究计划建立在威尔逊之前在HQP研究和培训方面的成功基础上。未来的学员将通过高级培训和技能发展来探索原创研究。纳米复合材料的设计及其吸附性能的高级研究将解决与基于吸附的现象相关的知识空白。通过研究结构-功能关系对基础科学的原创性和创新性贡献，将为与粮食和水安全、环境修复和可持续材料相关的多种应用贡献新的知识和技术解决方案。上述项目例证了加拿大未来对用于催化、化学分离、载体系统和其他基于吸附的应用的改进吸附材料的需求。这一研究计划将吸引和保留不同的HQP，同时通过解决行业的各种实际问题来确保加拿大经济和环境部门的利益，同时在加拿大政府的科学和技术战略描述的领域为不同的HQP提供高级培训和技能。

INTRODUCTION: Adsorption processes are vital and ubiquitous in nature and represent a hallmark feature of chemical transformations. Adsorptive removal represents the least expensive and technically efficient method for separation of chemical species in complex matrices. Adsorbent materials based on biopolymer nanocomposites 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, pharmaceutical carrier systems, chemical separations, food processing). Bottom-up synthesis of biopolymer nanocomposites 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 biomaterial-based nanocomposites with tunable properties and to gain a greater understanding of the structure-function relationships related to their heterogeneous sorption properties in aqueous media. This goal will be addressed by focusing on three short-term objectives: 1) the synthetic design of biopolymer nanocomposites using various platform biopolymers via a bottom-up approach, 2) characterization of the structure and physicochemical properties of the biopolymer nanocomposites using established methods, and 3) systematic studies of the structure-function properties of selected biopolymer nanocomposite systems using complementary methods (e.g., spectroscopic, thermodynamic, and kinetic studies) to develop an improved understanding of adsorption phenomena in such systems. This research will be pursued through three parallel thematic projects that integrate with the long-term goal, as follows: 1) Inorganic anion uptake, 2) Uptake of naphthenate species and bio-extracts, and 3) Vapour and water uptake properties. IMPACT: This research program builds upon Wilson's previous success in research and training of HQP. Future trainees will explore original research through advanced training and skills development. Nanocomposite materials design and advanced studies of their sorption properties will address knowledge gaps relevant to adsorption-based phenomena. Original and innovative contributions to fundamental science by studies of structure-function relationships will contribute new knowledge and technological solutions to manifold applications relevant to food and water security, environmental remediation, and sustainable materials. The projects above exemplify the demand for improved sorbent materials for catalysis, chemical separations, carrier systems, and other sorption-based applications for Canada's future. This research program will attract and retain diverse HQP along with ensuring benefits to Canada's economy and environmental sectors by solving diverse practical problems for industry whilst providing advanced training and skills for diverse HQP in areas described by the Government of Canada's Science & Technology strategy.