IMPRESS-U Call Partner Search Tool

General Information

• Type: Partner looking for project
• Organisation: Silesian University of Technology
• Country: Poland (PL)

Research area

• NSF calls:
  • EAGER
• Keywords:

  biodegradable films biopolymers increase in strength anticacterial properties

• Brief description of your expertise / expertise you are looking for:

  Preparation, characterization and application films and membranes from biopolymers i.e. chitosan, sodium alginate, cellulose and starch as a food packaging films or as a membrane in the proces of ethanol dehydration, removal of metal ions form water nad separation CO2 from the air.

• Brief description of your project / the project you would like to join:

  1. Multilayer films, applicable to food packaging. The proposed solution allows for a significant increase in the mechanical properties of natural polymer-based films such as chitosan, sodium alginate or starch. In order to achieve this effect, multilayer films will be obtained using as one layer fibers created by electrospinning method. In addition, innovative plasticisers with an increased molecular weight compared to glycerol or sorbitol will be added to the polymer solution to strengthen the biodegradable film, as well as different types of fillers, also increasing the strength of the material. The obtained multilayer films will be characterised not only by mechanical properties but also in terms of physico-chemical, thermodynamics, structural, antibacterial and biodegradable properties. Furthermore the oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour permeability will be also determined. 2. Magnetic membranes for alcohol dehydration. This project aims to develop a new type of highly selective magnetic membranes possessing well defined magnetic properties, as well as to describe the influence of membrane structure and its physicochemical properties on its transport properties. We propose to implement obtained membranes in the process of dehydration of alcohols by means of pervaporation. To realize this, we plan to fabricate polymeric membranes filled with magnetic filler. Compositions of the permeate and retentate streams will be used to determine several transport coefficients. Based on the obtained values, the mathematical model will be created involving the qualitative and quantitative description of the structure and morphology of membranes. The effects of this project will also include the comprehensive examination of the membranes as regards their chemical, mechanical, thermodynamic, structural, optical or magnetic properties. Collecting cross-section and surface images from optical microscopy of membranes will enable to perform stereological and fractal analysis of materials.

Gabriela Dudek

• Organisation: Silesian University of Technology
• Position:
• E-mail: gmdudek@polsl.pl