Where Engineering & Chemistry Intersect for Broader Impact
Currently, many biodegradable products in the market are bio-based, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, and are focused on conventional plastic applications. This approach to production of biodegradable plastics, however, is facing mounting challenges due to high cost, weaker performance, and environmental issues. In addition, several biodegradable plastics have proven to break down quickly under specific, simulated environmental conditions, but they may not be effectively degradable under natural conditions. As a result of these challenges and many more, there exists a gap in the market. Our Project Affiliates, Dr. Son and Dr. Krueger, aim to bridge this gap by pursuing a biodegradable plastic that better addresses the aforementioned challenges, investigating a prototype plastic with predictable degradation and mechanical properties. In the spirit of interdisciplinary innovation, they seek to develop a joint chemical and engineering approach to biodegradable plastics for broader impact.
Currently, many biodegradable products in the market are bio-based, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, and are focused on conventional plastic applications. This approach to production of biodegradable plastics, however, is facing mounting challenges due to high cost, weaker performance, and environmental issues. In addition, several biodegradable plastics have proven to break down quickly under specific, simulated environmental conditions, but they may not be effectively degradable under natural conditions. As a result of these challenges and many more, there exists a gap in the market.
Our Project Affiliates, Dr. Son and Dr. Krueger, aim to bridge this gap by pursuing a biodegradable plastic that better addresses the aforementioned challenges, investigating a prototype plastic with predictable degradation and mechanical properties. In the spirit of interdisciplinary innovation, they seek to develop a joint chemical and engineering approach to biodegradable plastics for broader impact.
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Appendix A<br />
Covid-19 Specific Findings<br />
Months into the pandemic, the US faces a shortage of PPE as the number of cases<br />
increases (see Figure 10) and more people are admitted into health care facilities. [25] The<br />
dearth of supplies is affecting a broad array of health facilities, and the supply cannot<br />
keep up with the demand. Many hospitals, nursing homes, and private medical practices<br />
are facing a shortage of respirator masks, isolation gowns, and disposable gloves that<br />
protect front-line medical workers from infection.<br />
Figure 10: Number of cases reported each day in the U.S. since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak (cdc.gov)<br />
Doctors at the Memorial City Medical Center in Houston who directly treat COVID-19<br />
patients have been urged to reuse single-use N95 respirator masks <strong>for</strong> up to 15<br />
days be<strong>for</strong>e throwing them out. National Nurses United (NNU), the country’s largest<br />
organization of registered nurses found in a survey of its members in late June that 87%<br />
WHERE ENGINEERING & CHEMISTRY INTERSECT FOR BROADER IMPACT<br />
NGUYEN, KATIE
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