November 6, 2014
Mathematics Colloquium lecture Nov. 6
Susan Sun, university distinguished professor, Bio-Materials and Technology Lab in grain dcience and industry, will present "Bio-based Materials and Opportunities" as part of the I-Center Interdisciplinary Lecture series at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in 1014 Throckmorton Hall.
The abstract for the lecture is:
The environment impact of persistent petroleum footprints is of growing global concerns. Global climate change is obvious because of carbon dioxide release from burning fossil fuels. There is an urgent task to research and engineer alternatives out of renewable bio-based materials, including bioenergy co-products. This seminar will focus on new technologies of bio-based chemicals and polymers from plant and grain molecules — i.e., protein, lipids. Examples will be given to show how these bio-based molecules can be converted into polymers with desirable functional properties that can be used for environmental safe adhesives and resins as well as high value medical applications.