(6ho) Sustainable Approaches to Polymer Recycling

Polymeric materials have become versatile and useful in the modern society. Polymers are relatively inexpensive, lightweight, and durable which can be molded into any form. The application of polymers ranges from textile fibers, shopping bags, packaging films, bottles, membranes to chips used in computers. Some commonly used polymers are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (high and low density), etc. The increase in reliance on polymeric materials generates waste, which has become a severe environmental pollution issue. Recycling of polymers is an area of significant importance for sustainable development. The post-consumer polymer wastes are being recycled or sent for energy recovery or dumped in a landfill. There are two broad approaches that are taken to recycle polymers (1) mechanical and (2) chemical recycling. In the mechanical recycling approach, used polymers are reprocessed into a new form. The disadvantage of this approach is the deterioration in the polymer properties with every cycle. The chemical recycling approach is aimed at depolymerizing the polymer to obtain its monomers. My long term goal is to develop a green approach to recycle polymers, where the polymers can be broken down to their monomers and then should be able to re-polymerize without any waste stream. The re-polymerized polymer would have the same properties as one produced from virgin material, and all solvents that are used should be reusable. Overall, my vision would be to develop a self-sufficient recycling process.

Postdoctoral Project: Fluid Phase Kinetics – Joint Industrial Project

Under the supervision of Clint P. Aichele, School of Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University.

Ph.D. Dissertation: “Bio-Based Active Barrier Material and Packaging Development”

Under the supervision of Maria R. Coleman and Saleh A. Jabarin, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Toledo/ Polymer Institute, University of Toledo

Research Experience:

Throughout my academic career, I have worked on various application-oriented research. The research areas that I have worked on are the removal of dyes (adsorption), reduction of oxygen permeability through polymers, and factors affecting the rate of gas evolution from supersaturated liquids at elevated pressures. As a result of working on these projects, I have acquired experience in many research areas: water treatment, polymers, nanomaterials, emulsions, surface tensions, and gas-liquid separations. I have become proficient as an experimentalist with an ability to develop a lab that is geared towards addressing these areas of research.

Teaching Interests:

I have been a Teaching Assistant (TA) for various courses, including Process Separation, Fluid Dynamic, Reaction Kinetics, and Unit Operation Lab. For the above course, I have been well appreciated and reviewed by the students. As an instructor, my teaching philosophy would be to embrace an active classroom environment, which encourages question/discussion and solving practical problems to better understand chemical engineering concepts.

Teaching Experience:

Throughout my doctoral program, I have undertaken various TA assignments at the University of Toledo. I have assisted in handling the Unit Operations Lab for 4 semesters and given review lectures for Process Separation and Reaction Kinetics. Having received the Best Teaching Assistant award twice (University of Toledo) reflects my ability as an instructor. I have also mentored graduate and undergraduate students in their research.

Selected Publication:

1. Alden B Daniel, Sayeed A Mohammad, Michael A Miranda, and Clint P Aichele “Absorption and Desorption Mass Transfer Rates as a Function Pressure and Mixing in a Simple Hydrocarbon System” Journal: Chemical Engineering Research and Design (2019).
2. Michael Angelo Miranda, Maria Coleman, Saleh. A. Jabarin “Modification of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using linoleic acid for oxygen barrier improvement: Impact of processing methods” Journal of Applied Polymer Science (2017).
3. Miranda, M.A., M. Coleman, and S. Jabarin. Impact of Processing Method and Loading of Active scavenger (Linoleic Acid) on Properties of Polyethylene Terephthalate. in SPE ANTECâ„¢ Indianapolis 2016.
4. Michael Angelo Miranda, P. Dhandapani, M. Helen Kalavathy, and Lima Rose Miranda, “Chemically activated Ipomoea carnea as an adsorbent for the copper sorption from synthetic solutions” Adsorption (2010) 16: 75–84.