Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The long term goal of my research program is to find new applications of waste CO2 and biomass in order to reduce the environmental impact of industrial processes and products. Theme 1. Using CO2 to Facilitate Separations. Biomass has difficulty competing with fossil fuels as a feedstock because biomass conversion requires removal of water, which consumes far too much energy. For this reason, new lower-energy methods for removing organic products from water are desperately needed. Ideal methods would not require water to be evaporated or distilled, because of the high heat capacity and heat of vaporization of water. This theme will explore several strategies for achieving such separations at or near room temperature. Theme 2. Synthesis using CO2 or Biomass. Two projects are proposed that will take advantage of CO2 and biomass as abundant and sustainable resources for organic synthesis. In one project, in analogy to the "on water" technique for accelerating organic reactions I will explore "on carbonated water". What is the effect of the presence of CO2 on the rate of reactions on water? In the other project, green methods will be sought for converting biomass-derived aldehydes into vinyl monomers and from thence into new bioderived polymers, some of which should be CO2-switchable. Theme 3 Reversibly Controlling Dispersions. In two projects, CO2-switchable chemistry will be used to solve problems caused by the fact that conventional surfactants and frothers continue to function even after they are no longer needed. In latex paints, surfactants are needed to stabilize the latex suspension in the formulation until the point when the paint is applied to a surface; from that point onwards the surfactant interferes in the film formation process and in the stability and water resistance of the final coating. During froth flotation, conventional frothers helpfully stabilize foams but after the flotation is complete and the froth is no longer needed, the frothers continue to stabilize the froth and thereby make it difficult to recycle the water. CO2-switchable surfactants and frothers will be designed to meet the needs of these two industries and solve these problems. Overall, these projects will lead to methods for the greener manufacturing of the chemicals and metals needed by Canadian society, consuming less energy, using more sustainable feedstocks (biomass and CO2), and decreasing the production of aqueous waste. Graduate and undergraduate students will be trained in a research program in green chemistry, emphasizing technical skills, communication skills, creativity, safety, and breadth of learning. In order to encourage breadth of learning, I have students interact with faculty in other disciplines, with industry, and with patent agents. Students are encouraged from the start to take ownership of their projects and contribute intellectually rather than seeing themselves as "pairs of hands".