Advanced Manufacturing for Renewable and Recyclable Polymers

(Supported by the NSF EPSCoR RII Track 2 Program, $4,000,000)

Plastics are an indispensable part of society but most plastics are made from fossil sources and resist degradation for decades, with only about 10% being recycled. Millions of tons of plastic waste pollute the environment with unpredictable ecological and health implications. New technologies are urgently needed to recycle plastics through the value chain enabling a circular and sustainable economy. Transition to a circular economy requires technological innovation and public policies that foster the use of biomass (e.g., grasses, crop leftovers) as feedstock along with high-quality recycled polymer materials.

In this project, a team of researchers from the University of Kansas (KU), University of Delaware (UD), and Pittsburg State University (PSU) have established a one-of-a-kind partnership to develop the knowledge-base needed to transition from non-renewable plastics to renewable and recyclable biobased polymers.

Our specific goals are to develop novel catalysts and advanced manufacturing concepts to (a) transform biorefinery feedstocks into commercially-relevant plastic materials, and (b) deconstruct recycled plastics into precursors for reuse. Multiscale simulations, data science, techno-economic analyses and life cycle assessments will guide the research towards achieving viable and sustainable processes.

We will also develop and evaluate public policies that simultaneously drive rural economic growth and market penetration of the new materials. The program will mentor junior faculty and young researchers for successful careers. It will also recruit and educate a diverse workforce equipped with skills needed to enable advanced manufacturing.