Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Ram K Gupta
Pittsburg State University, USA
Keynote: Sustainable routes to highly flame retardant polyurethanes
Time : 00:00-00:45
Biography:
Ram Gupta is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Pittsburg State University, USA. Dr. Gupta’s research focuses on green energy production and storage using conducting polymers and composites, nanomaterials, optoelectronics and photovoltaics devices, organic-inorganic hetero-junctions for sensors, nanomagnetism, bio-based polymers, bio-compatible nanofibers for tissue regeneration, scaffold and antibacterial applications, bio-degradable metallic implants. Dr. Gupta published over 175 peer-reviewed journal articles, made over 150 national/international/regional presentations, chaired many sessions at national/international meetings, and received over 1 million dollars for research and educational activities from external agencies such as NSF, DoE, KINBRE. He is serving as Associate Editor and editorial board member for various journals.
Abstract:
In 1937, Dr. Otto Bayer’s first discovery of polyurethanes by a polyaddition reaction of polyol and diisocyanate showed a polymer with interesting properties. Since then, polyurethanes made their way towards eminent success in fields of construction, furniture, appliances, thermal and electrical insulations, packaging, automobiles, aerospace application and many more. However, high surface to volume ratio and hydrocarbon-based overall composition makes polyurethanes vulnerable to fire hazards. Based on National Fire Protection Association about 1.34 million fires resulted in deaths of 3,390 civilian and property loss of about $10.6 billion in 2016. Rigid polyurethane foam is one of the major constructional and electrical insulation material with potentials of fire issues. This talk will be focused on synthesis and characterization of flame retardant polyurethanes using novel reactive phosphorous based flame-retardant and polyols from renewable resources. Utilizing bio-based polyols for the synthesis of polyurethanes will promote sustainability towards depleting petroleum resources. Polyurethane foams having a various weight percentage of phosphorous were prepared. It was observed that use of reactive phosphorous based flame-retardant in polyurethane foams showed improved compressive strength without affecting closed cell content and morphology of the foams. The horizontal burning test showed a drastic reduction in self-extinguishing time and weight loss for the polyurethane foams containing reactive flame-retardant. For example, castor oil and reactive flame-retardant based PU foam which contains 1.5 wt% P showed 98.2% and 93.8% reduction in self-extinguishing time and weight loss, respectively with respect to the foam without flame-retardant. Cone calorimeter data also showed a significant reduction in peak heat release rate, total heat release, total smoke release, and overall smoke production rate for the foam containing 1.5 wt% P compared to 0 wt% P in the foam. The details about the fire-retardant mechanism and other results will be presented.
Keynote Forum
Ashwini K Srivastava
University of Mumbai, India
Keynote: Development of high performance supercapacitors based on hybrid nanocomposite materials: A green approach for energy storage
Time : 00:00-00:45
Biography:
Ashwini K Srivastava is a professor of analytical chemistry at the department of chemistry, University of Mumbai, India. He obtained his Master's and PhD degrees from Banaras Hindu University, India. He has supervised a large number of Masters, Postdoctoral, and 26 PhD students. He has published 125 research papers in peer-reviewed journals with over 3100 citations and 29 h-index. His research activities have spanned diverse areas including electrochemical (bio) sensors, functional nanomaterials, energy storage, environmental pollution and chromatographic separations. His work is mainly focused on the development of sensors for trace level detection of biologically active molecules: vitamins, amino acids, and neurotransmitters; analgesics, cardiovascular and psychiatric drugs; environmental pollutants: pesticides and metals. His recent interest involves the synthesis of a variety of nanocomposite materials for fabrication of energy storage devices like high-performance supercapacitors.
Abstract:
Recently, electrochemical supercapacitors or ultracapacitors are developing eye-catching technology to the world that comes
under the electrochemical energy storage and conversion class along with batteries and fuel cells. As an origin of clean and renewable energy, supercapacitor provides superiority in power density, less charging time, high electrochemical reversibility and longer cyclic life as compared to batteries and fuel cells. However, the only demerits of supercapacitors that limit their wide range of applications are insufficient energy density (<10 Wh.kg-1) and high production cost. The purpose of the present study is to develop a simple, cost-effective, environmental friendly yet facile method for the preparation of hybrid nanocomposites and their successful application for development of high-performance supercapacitors. In one of the approaches, Co-based metal-organic framework (CoBTC MOF) was synthesized by mechanochemical grinding and further its nanocomposite with graphene (GNS) was prepared by reduction of graphene oxide in presence of CoBTC MOF. The material was then characterized by surface analytical techniques as well as electrochemical methods. The combination of the pseudo-capacitive behavior of CoBTC MOF (faradaic + intercalation) and double layer capacitive behavior of GNS delivers high specific capacitance of 608.2 F.g-1 at the current density of 0.25 A.g-1 showing its great potential as an energy storage material. Further, symmetric
supercapacitor was assembled for practical application of CoBTC MOF/GNS which delivered specific capacitance of 153.7
F.g-1 with a high energy density of 6.4 Wh.kg-1 and power density of 232.5 W.kg-1. It also manifests 92.1% retention of initial
capacitance after 5000 charge-discharge cycles which prove its excellent cyclic stability. The combination of faradaic and nonfaradaic charge storage mechanism is responsible for its improved charge storage capacity resulting into better performance.
We believe that such encouraging results can open a new avenue to design and fabricate high-performance supercapacitors in
the near future.
Keynote Forum
Nicholas A Ashford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Keynote: The contributions of green chemistry and engineering to sustainable development
Time : 00:00-00:50
Biography:
Nicholas A Ashford is Professor of Technology and Policy and Director of the Technology and Law Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he teaches courses in Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics; Law, Technology, and Public Policy; and Technology, Globalization, and Sustainable Development.
He holds both a PhD in Chemistry and a Law Degree from the University of Chicago, where he also received the graduate education in Economics. Dr Ashford is a visiting scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health and teaches intensive courses in Sustainable Development, and European and International Environmental Law at Cambridge University, UK and at the Cyprus University of Technology. Dr. Ashford is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Dr. Ashford's research interests include sustainability, trade and environment; regulatory law and economics; industrial policy; employment; and environmental justice.
Abstract:
At a time when sustainable development has become a concern of both developed and developing countries, chemistry and chemical engineering expertise and education have become more important than ever. Understanding the impact of chemicals on health and the environment, new synthesis pathways through green chemistry and engineering, substitution of safer chemicals, other chemical and non-chemical technologies. And alternatives analysis have presented new exciting opportunities and challenges for the chemical sciences. At a time when the regulation of chemicals and chemical production/
processing in the US (TSCA), the EU (REACH), and Asia (OECD) is undergoing major upheaval, and trade involving chemicals has come under intense scrutiny, it is imperative that science-based knowledge influences the outcomes appropriately. Both technical and regulatory challenges are discussed.
- Green Engineering
Chair
Thomas J Webster
Northeastern University, USA
Co-Chair
Ram K Gupta
Pittsburg State University, USA
Session Introduction
Charlie Zhang
SINOPEC, China
Title: Introduction to microwave assisted pyrolysis and its application in agricultural residue gasification
Time : 00:00-00:35
Biography:
Charlie Zhang is a senior corporate fellow of SINOPEC. He received his PhD from Clark University in the United States in 1993. He is currently at Dalian Research
Institute of Petroleum and Petrochemicals (DRIPP) of SINOPEC, working on several green energy and green chemical projects. His primary focus is on microwaveassisted
biomass conversion and production of high value-added renewable products.
Abstract:
As the population’s living standard improves in rural areas of China in the last few decades, people started using more fossil fuel for their household energy consumption. However, burning of agricultural crop residue represents a major source of particulate matter, unhealthy gases emission which contributes to the worsening air quality and environmental problems in the northeastern part of China. In China, the total agriculture biomass output by 2020 could reach 800 Mt (million tons) annually. It’s estimated that currently, China’s biomass energy potential is as high as 460 Mt in standard coal equivalent (TCE),
but only a small fracture of it has been utilized in 2016. To unlock this huge usable energy potential, DRIPP (Dalian Research Institute of Petroleum and Petrochemicals of SINOPEC) has collaborated with local municipal government and business organizations, developed a new microwave technology to turn agricultural residue and municipal waste into a convenient
form of clean energy (syngas) and other value-added products (such as hydrogen and active carbon). Taking advantage of our well-established microwave facility, we have successfully demonstrated this technology both in bench-top and 10 kg/hr scale. Using Aspen Plus as a process simulation tool, a model has been established for economic analysis; and we are on our way of
designing a unit in semi-commercial scale for a local community of the size of several hundred households. If the technology is proven to be robust enough for general public usage in rural areas of countryside, it will change the landscape of biomass energy development in China.
- Application of Green Chemistry
Chair
Thomas J Webster
Northeastern University, USA
Co-Chair
Ram K Gupta
Pittsburg State University, USA
Session Introduction
Takako Igarashi
Kao Corporation, Japan
Title: Elucidation of softening mechanism in rince-cycle fabric softeners, uneven adsorption: The key phenomenon to the effect of fabric softeners
Biography:
Takako Igarashi received a Master's degree of Engineering from Kanazawa University in Japan. Since 1991, she has worked for Kao Corporation as a research scientist in R&D-polymer development division of Material Development labs. and R&D-Household Products Research labs. She is now a senior research scientist in R&D-Household Products Research labs.
Abstract:
Historically, surfactants were at first introduced to protect yarns from breakage in the course of producing them by using machines in thread-manufacturing plants. In this case, the aspect of friction-lowering of the agents was the key
mechanism why these agents were used. This history has let us believe that another function of this type - especially the double long chain alkyl ammonium cationic type agents - found to work as softening agent especially for cotton, the softening effect might have also been believed to be caused by the lowering effect of these type of compounds, and thus the conventional theory of the softening mechanism got its position. The evaluation of “softening effect” by the formulators of softening agents had
also been done by sensory evaluation which is made of multiple variant senses in which the feeling of friction was “naturally” involved. Our doubt started about this sensory evaluation system as one of the biggest manufacturers of fabric softening agent in Japan. Can slipping feel be the cause of the “real softening” effect of these agents? Our answer was No so that we started
the thorough review of academic papers and started to build a new theory by the careful observation of the physical property change happens before and after the use of the softening agents. The conventional theory of the softening mechanism states that softening effect results from the increase in sliding between fibers and yarns. Our new theory of softening effect occurs by inhibiting cross-linkage of hydrogen bonds. A softener plays two important roles: (1) Decrease of the meniscus force between fibers in a drying process, preventing the decrease in distance between the fibers. (2) Softener inhibits the construction of the cross-linkage made of bound-water between fibers. Furthermore, (3) softener has uneven adsorption characteristic presents in the inner part of yarns. A gradation of softener adsorption happens. Thus, two different physical properties of the soft outer part and the hard inner part are the key factors to give the soft and bouncy feel of the fabric. This formation of adsorption gradation brings about the favorable physical property even when only a small amount of agent such as 0.1 % o.w.f. – a current standard concentration - is used.
- Green Nanotechnology
Chair
Thomas J Webster
Northeastern University, USA
Co-Chair
Ram K Gupta
Pittsburg State University, USA
Session Introduction
Ashwini K Srivastava
University of Mumbai, India
Title: Novel electrochemical devices and stretegies for practicing green analytical chemistry
Biography:
Ashwini K Srivastava is a professor of analytical chemistry at the department of chemistry, University of Mumbai, India. He obtained his Master's and Ph.D. degrees from Banaras Hindu University, India. He has supervised a large number of Masters, Postdoctoral, and 26 Ph.D. students..He has published 125 research papers in peer reviewed journals with over 3100 citations and 29 h-index. His research activities have spanned diverse areas including electrochemical (bio) sensors, functional nanomaterials, energy storage, environmental pollution and chromatographic separations. His work is mainly focused on the development of sensors for trace level detection of biologically active molecules: vitamins, amino acids and neurotransmitters; analgesics, cardiovascular and psychiatric drugs; environmental pollutants: pesticides and metals. His recent interest involves the synthesis of a variety of nanocomposite materials for fabrication of energy storage devices like high performance supercapacitors.
Abstract:
Recent development in the field of green and sustainable chemistry has focused very much on the synthesis of functional materials using more environmentally friendly synthetic routes. Also, functional nanocomposite materials have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years because of their potential applications in a wide range of technologies ranging from
medical imaging, to chemical and biological sensors, to efficient catalysis. The diverse applications of the nanocomposite materials result from the unique set of properties that the two seemingly dissimilar materials – the inorganic nanostructures such as the carbon and boron nanotubes, graphene, and metal-nanoclusters and the biological molecules, macrocyclic compounds, conducting polymers, etc. bring together and often retain in the composite form. Electrochemical sensors are a class of devices that have found widespread use, ranging from the detection of gas molecules to the tracking of chemical signals in biological cells. These sensors, and specifically biosensors, are nowadays earning an exceptional prominence in analytical
methodologies. They are also of great importance in their traditional niche of applications in the pathological and industrial processes. The research in this area demands promising functional materials with outstanding sensing properties. Different kinds of materials including carbon based materials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers); metal nanoparticles
(gold, silver, platinum and metal oxides), conducting polymers (polypyrrole, polyaniline) and / or macrocyclic compounds have recently been employed for development of electrochemical sensors in my research group. A variety of electroanalytical and spectroscopic techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, chronocoulometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, TEM, etc. were employed to study the surfaces of these electrode materials. The synergistic effect of these materials is found to be highly useful for the sensing of various classes of drugs such as central nervous system drugs, antitubercular drugs, antidepressant and cardiovascular drugs at ultra trace level in pharmaceutical and biomedical samples. Also, enantioselective
analysis of multi-chiral drug, Moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MOX) enantiomers was investigated on carbon paste electrode modified with chiral selector β-Cyclodextrin and graphene nanosheets based on host-guest interactions employing differential pulse voltammetry. This talk will describe some of our recent research [1-5] on the application of functional nanocomposites for the development of electrochemical sensors.