Development of Advanced Functional Biopolymer Composites with Tunable Physicochemical Properties

简介：吸附过程是至关重要的和普遍存在的性质，并代表了化学转化的标志特征。吸附去除是复杂基质中化学物质分离成本最低、技术效率最高的方法。基于生物聚合物纳米复合材料的吸附剂材料具有相当大的科学和技术价值，因为它们独特的性质可以被利用来解决一系列的技术应用（例如，环境修复，药物载体系统，化学分离，食品加工）。自下而上合成生物聚合物纳米复合材料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，并对其在水介质中的非均相吸附性能的结构-功能关系有更深入的了解。为实现这一目标，将着重于三个短期目标：1)通过自下而上的方法，利用各种平台生物聚合物设计生物聚合物纳米复合材料的合成；2)利用现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；3)利用互补的方法（如光谱学、热力学、动力学和动力学）系统地研究选定的生物聚合物纳米复合材料系统的结构-功能特性。和动力学研究)，以提高对这种系统中吸附现象的理解。本研究将通过三个平行的主题项目进行，这些项目与长期目标相结合：1)无机阴离子吸收，2)环烷酸盐和生物提取物的吸收，以及3)蒸汽和水的吸收特性。影响：该研究项目建立在Wilson先前在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探索原创性研究。纳米复合材料的设计和对其吸附特性的深入研究将解决与吸附现象相关的知识空白。结构-功能关系研究对基础科学的原创性和创新性贡献将为食品和水安全、环境修复和可持续材料等多方面应用提供新的知识和技术解决方案。上述项目举例说明了加拿大未来对催化、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。该研究计划将吸引和留住不同的HQP，同时通过解决工业的各种实际问题，确保加拿大经济和环境部门的利益，同时为加拿大政府科学技术战略所描述的领域的不同HQP提供先进的培训和技能。

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.