Polymer Science Podcast

Episode 28: Dr. Katrina Knauer discusses the restructuring of plastic recycling

Dr. Katrina Knauer is the Chief Technology Officer of the BOTTLE Consortium at the National Renewable Energy Laboratories near Denver, Colorado. BOTTLE (Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment) is a U.S. Department of Energy multi-organization consortium focused on developing new chemical upcycling strategies for today's plastics and redesigning tomorrow's plastics to be recyclable-by-design.
 
Publications related to PHA discussion with Dr. Knauer:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ange.201916415
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02110
 
All BOTTLE publications:
https://www.bottle.org/publications.html
 
Any comments or questions? Please reach out to us!
PolymerSciencePodcast@gmail.com

Episode 27: Dr. Barney Grubbs discusses the significance of depolymerizable polymers in sustainable materials

Dr. Barney Grubbs discusses with Jacob the importance of controllably degradable polymers and their significance in improving material sustainability. Dr. Grubbs also talks about his academic journey, taking us all around the United States as he shares his exciting research!
The Grubbs research group investigates questions addressing the common ground shared by polymer, organic, and materials chemistry. Guided by physics, theory, and engineering, they design, synthesize, and characterize polymer materials. 
Any questions for Alicia and Jacob? They would love for you to reach out! Contact them at: PolymerSciencePodcast@gmail.com
Grubbs Research Group: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/chemistry/faculty/_faculty-profiles/grubbs-barney
Link to paper* (Amine-Catalyzed Chain Polymerization of Ethyl Glyoxylate from Alcohol and Thiol Initiators): https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00865
*If you cannot access the linked journal article, contact Dr. Grubbs via email to politely ask for a copy of the paper -->robert.grubbs@stonybrook.edu

Episode 26: Talking to Ingmar Van Hengel about digital health, 3D implants and skin printing

Ingmar Van Hengel is a PhD candidate at Delft University in Biomedical Engineering. He also has a mind for business when he created his first startup company called SkinPrint for the treatment of burn wounds using bioprinting to develop skin using the patient's cells and biocompatible natural polymer materials. He then shifted his focus to developing multifunctional 3D implants for orthopedic patients that are longer lasting and can combat bacterial infections. He has continued to grow his expertise in the Digital health field and was a business analyst for PatchAI, which develops intelligent digital health engagement solutions for decentralized clinical studies. He is now working with Alira Health in gathering data and doing research that can contribute greatly to the overall health of the society.
 
https://alirahealth.com/
https://www.patchai.io/news/author/ingmar-van-hengel
 
Some more links:
Short movie about Skinprint: https://youtu.be/2C3aFV8V8k4
Publication skin printing: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20417314221088513
PhD research on 3D printed orthopedic implants: https://www.materialstoday.com/metals-alloys/news/new-titanium-implants-could-last-a-lifetime/
Short movie about digital health (Patchai): https://youtu.be/hQ9up3nGytk
 

Episode 25: Dr. Brooks Abel, University of California Berkeley, Polymer Recycling

Dr. Brooks Abel is an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where the Abel group conducts research at the interfaces of polymer organic chemistry, catalysis, and materials science. Dr. Brooks and his group pursue application-driven polymer chemistry, where the desired chemical identity, physical properties, and end-use of the polymer materials are used to guide the development of new polymerization methods. They also follow a methodology approach to discovering new polymerization reactions to push the field of polymer chemistry towards previously unobtainable control over polymer microstructure, architecture, and functionality. 
Including the incredible research Dr. Abel has performed throughout his career, this episode focuses on new methods and materials designed to improve the recyclability of plastic materials. Tune in now to learn more!
Video reference of plastic being broken down into its starting ingredients: https://youtu.be/e_195DD-r2k

Episode 24: Talking to Dr Megan Coates and Dr Laura Frazier about SNC and TaikiUSA nanofiber-based beauty line

Today we are talking to Dr Laura Frazier, Chief Scientist of TaikiUSA, and Dr Megan Coates, R&D manager at the Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company, about their collaboration and creation of Bōshi Beauty nanofiber-based product line.
Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company has been developing nanofiber-based products, including advanced wound dressings, tissue engineering scaffolds and cosmetic products. TaikiUSA is a global leader in skincare and makeup tools.
Megan received her PhD in Chemistry at the Rhodes University in South Africa and have been working at the SNC for over 8 years as Research and Development manager. Laura received her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Akron in the USA and have worked as Director at the SNS Nanofiber Technology company, an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Malone University, a program leader at Owens Corning and now as chief scientist at TaikiUSA.
www.taikibeauty.com
 www.sncfibers.com

Episode 23: Talking to Clariter’s Zininzi Mpafa about upcycling plastic waste to useful products

Hello everyone!
Alicia, here! So at the time of this recording I am approximately 38 weeks pregnant and a little sick as you could probably tell from my voice.
This means that I am now on maternity leave while you are listening to this episode and taking care of our newborn!
Nonetheless the show goes on! And I am happy to say that our Podcast team has grown. You will be introduced to our new co-host soon!
In this episode, we are speaking to Zininzi Mpafa, a Laboratory Analyst at Clariter. She is an experience scientist in the Petrochemical industry and Environment industry (Ocean and Coastal Research). She studied at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Walter Sisulu University in Analytical Chemistry. She also did internships as quality testing analyst at Engen and as a Marine Chemist at the Department of  Environmental Affairs. She is currently working at the global cleantech company, Clariter, that focuses on upcycling plastic waste into the high-value, pure solvents, oils and waxes.
As promised here are the links to the articles and research mentioned in the episode!
Hope you find it useful!
 
https://clariter.com/news/
www.teijinaramid.com
 
Thank you for listening and for your support!

Episode 22: Talking to Dr. Benjamin Alameda about controllably degradable polymer networks

In this episode we hear from Dr. Benjamin Alameda, a brand new PhD graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Alameda specializes in the design, fabrication, and characterization of polymer networks that degrade in the presence of different external stimuli. As we continue to mold the future of plastics toward more environmentally friendly designs, we need to consider the "cradle-to-grave approach" - that is, designing a polymer material with consideration of the final product's full lifecycle. Imagine tires that can be fully broken down and recycled after several years of use! 
 
Please contact us with any questions or comments at polymersciencepodcast@gmail.com

Episode 21: Talking to Dr. Christoph Herfurth about polyurethanes and sustainable plastics

In this episode we hear from Dr. Christoph Herfurth, a researcher from Fraunhofer. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft based in Germany is the world’s leading applied research organization. Prioritizing key future-relevant technologies and commercializing its findings in business and industry, it plays a major role in the innovation process. A trailblazer and trendsetter in innovative developments and research excellence, it is helping shape our society and our future. Founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany. Over 30,000 employees, predominantly scientists and engineers, work with an annual research budget of €2.9 billion. Fraunhofer generates €2.5 billion of this from contract research.
 
Learn more about Fraunhofer and Dr. Herfurth's exciting work in this article.

Episode 20: Talking to Tshepo Mangoele about an amazing natural polymer called Lignin.

In this episode we are talking to Tshepo Mangoele, CEO and Founder of LignOrganic (PTY) Ltd. This company is the first in Africa to produce Sulphur-free Lignin, a natural polymer with endless possibilities and applications!
Tshepo is a Chemical Engineer with a vision to make environmentally-friendly biomaterials and sustainable products the new normal in markets for cosmetics, packaging, agriculture and biomaterials.
We also get to learn more from him about how it feels to start one's own company and the challenges that come along with such a fulfilling endeavor. I hope you enjoy listening to this inspiring and informative conversation!
Learn more about Lignin here:
https://lignorganic.co.za/
 
And as promised, check out the affordable and clean skincare range launching soon:
https://ophyll.co.za/
 
Thank you for listening!

Episode 19: Talking to Hyunwoo Yuk about barnicle-inspired surgical glue

Hello and welcome, everyone, to the Polymer Science Podcast's last episode for 2021!
 
In this episode we’ll be listening to my interview with Dr. Hyunwoo Yuk, an outstanding research scientist of mechanical and biomedical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I reached out to Dr. Yuk after finding his work on the development of a particularly interesting surgical glue – this glue can close and COMPLETELY seal an open wound in seconds… SECONDS! And the way they came up with this idea is absolutely barnacles… no really, the whole project was actually inspired by sea barnacles! Mother Nature has always been a powerful inspiration for scientific progress, so when Dr. Yuk and his team were tasked with designing a surgical glue that could surpass existing products, they recognized the robustly “sticky” nature of barnacles could provide valuable insight toward their cause. Tune in now to learn about how Dr. Yuk was able to accomplish this incredible task."
 
Link to article: https://www.wired.com/story/this-barnacle-inspired-glue-seals-bleeding-organs-in-seconds/
 
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year!
 
Thank you for listening