WIN Thematic Seminar Series: Sustainable Nanomaterials for Environmental Management Systems

The Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) has four main thematic research areas; Smart and Function Materials, Connected Devices, Next Generation Energy Systems and Therapeutics and Theranostics. To showcase the work going on within these areas, we will be holding monthly WIN Thematic Seminars featuring our members and their research group members. For the inaugural event, Professor Michael Tam from the Smart and Functional Materials theme and Ph.D. candidate, under his supervision, Yebin Lee will be giving a seminar on "Sustainable Nanomaterials for Environmental Management Systems".

Registration is required. If you have any questions or issues registering, please contact win-office@uwaterloo.ca 

Sustainable Nanomaterials for Environmental Management Systems

Abstract

Sustainable nanomaterials, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are rod-like nanoparticles obtained by sulfuric acid hydrolysis of cellulose fibres. Several properties of CNCs, such as its availability, low cost, high mechanical strength, large number of surface functional groups, high surface area per volume and aspect ratio have led to an increasing interest in using them for adsorption and controlled release applications. Pristine CNCs were incorporated into hydrogel beads in order to eliminate the need for centrifugation. CNCs used in these hydrogel beads were also functionalized and the adsorption and controlled release characteristics were examined. CNCs incorporated alginate hydrogel bead systems possessed attractive adsorption properties both in batch and fixed-bed column adsorption systems. These hydrogel beads could be regenerated and reused if necessary. Additionally, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were combined with CNCs and pulp fibers to produce filtration membrane suitable for the removal or organic and metallic contaminants. These sustainable nanomaterials possess attractive characteristics for the removal of various types of contaminants in wastewater systems. In addition, these nanomaterials can be modified and functionalized for selective adsorption of heavy metals and also to decontaminate water by incorporating anti-bacterial properties to these nanomaterials.

Biographies 

Michael Tam obtained his B.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical engineering from Monash University, Australia in 1982 and 1991 respectively. He spent 18 months on a postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University Canada, and subsequently taught at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore for 15 years. In June 2007 he joined the Department of Chemical Engineering, the University of Waterloo as a tenured full professor, and holds the position of University Research Chair in the field of functional colloids and sustainable nanomaterials. He is an active member of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology. His research interests are in colloids, self-assembly systems, polymer-surfactant interactions, and drug delivery systems. He has published more than 350 journal articles in various fields of polymer science and engineering. His total citation exceeds 21,150 and his H-index is 74. He is also an associate editor of ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

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Yebin Lee obtained her B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering in 2011 and MASc in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science in 2013 from Chung-Ang University, Korea. From 2013 to 2018 she worked as an engineer for Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Korea. Under the supervision of Professor Michael Tam, Yebin is currently pursuing her PhD in sustainable nanomaterials. Currently, her research focuses on using modify cellulose nanocrystal with metal and conductive polymer toward antimicrobial and electronics applications.