(6ea) Responsive Bio-Based Nanocomposites for Sustainable Separations

My future research will focus on the isolation and processing of carbohydrate nanocrystals and bio-based polymers.  Sustainable ‘smart’ materials will be developed that change their properties based on external triggers like pressure and temperature.  The main application of interest will be developing gels and membranes for specialty separations, including nanoparticle size fractionation and metal catalyst recycling.  Other applications will be pursued through collaborations.  My research will be developed around the general disciplines of renewable materials and sustainability.

Two main areas of research summarize my postdoctoral work at Georgia Tech, fine chemicals production with sustainable solvents and polymer chemistry.  I employed ‘smart’ responsive solvents like sulfolenes and gas expanded liquids to achieve a scalable synthesis of specialty chemicals.  I also collaborated actively on analyzing the mechanisms involved on PVC thermal degradation and stabilization through bio-based additives.

My doctoral research focused on the isolation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from cotton and Kraft wood pulp, and their processing into calcium alginate nanocomposite fibers.  The novel alginate/CNC fibers mimic the structure/property relations found in native cellulose fibers.  However, they possess the added advantage that the material’s microstructure can be tuned by controlling in-line processing parameters of a simple and cost-effective technique like wet-spinning.  Successfully combining the expertise gained while pursuing my Ph.D. with that learned during my postdoctoral work will enable the development of novel renewable materials for sustainable applications.

Peer reviewed Publications (4 additional publications are in preparation)

1. Pollet, P., Davey, E., Ureña-Benavides, E.E., Eckert, C.A., Liotta, C.L. Solvents for Sustainable Chemical Processes. Green Chem., 2014, 16, 1034-1055. INVITED REVIEW
2. Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Kayatin, M.J.; Davis, V.A. Dispersion and Rheology of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in Unsaturated Polyester Resin. Macromolecules 2013, 46, 1642 – 1650.
3. Mota, L.C.; Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Yoon, Y.; Son, A. Quantitative Detection of Single Walled Carbon  Nanotube in Water Using DNA and Magnetic Fluorescent Spheres. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47, 493 – 501.
4. Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Kitchens, C.L. Static Light Scattering of Triaxial Nanoparticle Suspensions in the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye Regime: Application to Cellulose Nanocrystals. RSC Advances 2012, 2, 1096 – 1105.
5. Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Kitchens, C.L. Cellulose Nanocrystal Reinforced Alginate Fibers—Biomimicry Meets Polymer Processing. Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 2012, 556, 275-287.
6. Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Ao G.; Davis, V.A.; Kitchens C.L. Rheology and Phase Behavior of Lyotropic Cellulose Nanocrystal Aqueous Suspensions. Macromolecules, 2011, 44, 8990 – 8998.
7. Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Kitchens C.L. Wide Angle X-Ray Diffraction of Cellulose Nanocrystal-Alginate Nanocomposite Fibers. Macromolecules 2011, 44, 3478 - 3484.
8. Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Brown, P.J.; Kitchens C.L. Effect of Jet Stretch and Particle Load on Cellulose Nanocrystal-Alginate Nanocomposite Fibers. Langmuir 2010, 26, 14263-14270.

Book Chapter

1. Ureña-Benavides, E.E. and Davis, V.A. “Carbon Nanotubes and Energy”. In Modern Energy Storage, Conversion, and Transmission in the 21st Century; Rose, L., Ed; Nova Science Publishers: New York, 2013, p 348.