A5065929646- Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Polydiacetylene-based materials and applications
- Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
- Polymer crystallization and properties
- Polymer Foaming and Composites
- Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties
- Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Enzyme-mediated dye degradation
- Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films
- Nanocluster Synthesis and Applications
- Molecular Sensors and Ion Detection
- Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
University of Delaware
2024-2025
University of Manchester
2020-2024
Henry Royce Institute
2022-2024
A circular plastics economy can leverage the lightweight, strong and durable characteristics of macromolecular materials, while simultaneously reducing negative environmental impacts associated with polymer waste. Advanced recycling technologies provide an opportunity to valorize waste extend lifespan these materials by converting into new monomers, polymers or specialty chemicals. Although many advanced appear promising, assessments economic sustainability are often not conducted in a...
Polyethylene (PE) is the most commonly used plastic on Earth due to its favorable material properties such as high ductility, mechanical strength, and bond homogeneity that make resistant deconstruction. However, lack of robust recycling infrastructure for PE end-of-life management leading an estimated 4 million tons environmental accumulation annually, with implications human health. Biological deconstruction upcycling could potentially aid in waste by allowing high-yield conversion...
Chemical deconstruction of polyolefin plastic wastes via hydroconversion is promising for mitigating accumulation in landfills and the environment. However, catalysts cannot handle complex feedstocks containing multiple polymers, additives, heteroatom impurities. Here, we report a single-step strategy using earth-abundant metal sulfide to deconstruct these wastes. We show that NiMoSx/HY feedstocks, achieving ∼81–94% selectivity liquid products. Postsynthetic zeolite modification enhances...
Polyolefins have a multitude of uses across packaging, automotive and construction sectors. Their resistance to degradation during reprocessing enables recyclability, but variability in recycled polymer feedstocks renders it difficult assure their manufacturing suitability. The lack quality control methods has disabled circular economy pathways; product failure is costly, wasteful time-intensive. Using rheology-simulated extrusion-based recycling experiments, we explore the pathways...
While mechanical recycling is a key enabler of plastics circular economy, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) highly susceptible to degradation during melt processing. Through rheology-simulated and extrusion experiments we demonstrate that the PET high temperature processing can be understood mitigated by control gaseous environment. Processing under nitrogen induces up-shifts in viscosity molecular weights up 20%. By contrast, presence oxygen initiates chain scission reactions, decreasing...
Cadmium oleate is widely used as a cation precursor in the synthesis of cadmium chalcogenide nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) for broad range photonic and optoelectronic applications. Cd can noncovalently assemble to form supramolecular coordination gel, or metallogel, solvents commonly disperse oleate-capped QDs. The gelation severely impedes purification QDs from excess oleate, resulting gelled product that cannot be reliably characterized further reactions. Here, we investigate gel gain...
We explore hydrogenolysis over ruthenium supported on zirconia (Ru/ZrO2) and hydrocracking platinum (Pt) zeolites as an effective end-of-life strategy for ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)─a widely used performance heat sealant in hard-to-recycle multilayer packaging. For Ru/ZrO2 hydrogenolysis, EVA reacts slower than low-density polyethylene (LDPE) the catalyst deactivates due to carbonaceous deposits originating from polyenes generated situ during thermal degradation. High H2 pressures...
The linearity of the plastics economy is wasteful and polluting. To encourage recycling decrease diversion to landfill, new legislation within EU UK will tax single-use plastic products made with less than 30% recycled plastic. At present, quantitative determination content elusive existing methods are inconsistent. We present a fluorescence-based analytical technique determine in (single use) packaging. Bathochromic shifts resulting from aggregation fluorescent brightener...
Fluorophores displaying concentration-dependent luminescence are becoming increasingly valuable in stress-sensing, tagging, and dyeing applications, including the quantification of recycled content plastic packaging. In this work, we investigate effects polymer matrix, dye structure, crystallinity on aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE). We demonstrate that aggregation threshold required for successful can be adjusted through modulation guest-host (dye-polymer) interactions monitored...