At the UGA New Materials Institute, we believe that a material’s useful end-of-life should be considered at the design stage and that Green Engineering principles should be part of this process.
Our project aligns with the mission of foundations and businesses dedicated to advancing U.S. manufacturing, strengthening the U.S. steel industry, and promoting sustainability. Your support would help reduce environmental impact by replacing environmentally persistent plastic wheelies with durable, ecofriendly metal alternatives.
The UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) recently installed a new, advanced isotope ratio mass spectrometry system which offers enhanced capabilities for evaluating critical measures of ocean health.
The Thermo ScientificTM DELTATM Q Light Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer was installed in the Skidaway Institute Scientific Stable Isotope Laboratory (SISSIL), which is directed by Jay Brandes, a professor of marine sciences at SKiO and a faculty member in the UGA New Materials Institute. The spectrometer offers unprecedented precision in evaluating solids and complex mixtures like amino acids or DNA for carbon, nitrogen and sulfur stable isotope content. The system reduces sample size requirements and introduces cutting-edge capabilities, including the first liquid chromatography interface of its kind installed in the United States.
At SkIO, this state-of-the-art technology is already being applied to critical research areas such as dissolved organic matter cycling, oceanic carbon cycling, and fish migratory patterns. Stable isotopes, often called the “magnifying glasses” of environmental science, allow researchers to uncover secrets about nitrogen sources and eutrophication, food webs, and ecosystem health.
The new spectrometer was funded by a $404,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.
Click on the link below to learn more about how this transformative technology is advancing marine science research, or to reach out to Dr. Brandes to inquire about SISIL and its services.
In this podcast, Dr. Evan White, director of the Bioseniatic℠ Laboratory at the University of Georgia New Materials Institute, delves deep into the future of food waste management, composting, and the circular economy. He shares insights from a groundbreaking organic recycling pilot program in Athens, Georgia, revealing how a thoughtful approach to food scraps can reduce carbon emissions, help families live more sustainably, and even foster joy among children as they learn about composting.
This conversation covers a range of solutions, from addressing the challenges of landfill methane to exploring the role of compostable plastics. These solutions aim to reduce food waste and create valuable products from what would otherwise end up in landfills. Dr. White discusses the importance of public-private partnerships and the incredible progress being made in middle-sized cities where the need is greatest.
Don’t miss out on this thought-provoking episode that shines a light on how we can all play a part in a more sustainable future.
Discover how the Bioseniatic℠ Laboratory at the UGA New Materials Institute is advancing environmental safety through germination studies. Germination studies assess a material’s toxicity and impact on soil and plant health. By using sensitive species like corn, which absorb nutrients efficiently and show clear signs of unhealthy growth, we follow the OECD/OCDE 208 guidelines to evaluate seedling emergence and growth. Germination studies are conducted after respirometry studies. Together, these tests provide essential insights into product safety and biodegradability. Watch our video to see the process in action.
A University of Georgia and University of Liverpool (UGA-UoL) collaborative faculty team has secured funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and UKRI Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for a project aimed at developing sustainable bioplastics. This achievement is a result of a collaborative effort with the UoL, showcasing the potential of international research partnerships in addressing pressing environmental challenges.
The project, titled Sustainable Bioplastics Prepared by Ultrasonic Treatment with Low CO2 Footprint, aims to revolutionize the production of bioplastics through advanced ultrasonic treatment methods. By significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions during the manufacturing process as well as energy consumption, the team hopes to provide a viable alternative biodegradable plastic to conventional plastic materials, contributing to global sustainability goals.
The international research team has been awarded approximately $863,000 from the EPSRC, while the NSF has committed $557,553 in support of the project, which commenced on September 1, 2024, and will conclude on August 31, 2027. This funding will enable researchers to explore cutting-edge techniques and materials in the field of sustainable technology.
Sergiy Minko (Nanostructured Materials Lab, Department of Chemistry, Franklin College and Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors, Georgia Power Professor of Polymer Science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences) from UGA will collaborate closely with Dmitry Shchukin (School of Physical Sciences) from UoL on this pioneering project. Together, they will leverage their expertise to investigate the efficacy of ultrasonic treatment in producing high-quality bioplastics that minimize environmental impact.
“The ongoing project is using different sources of biomass waste and side products of the agricultural, pulp and paper, and biofuel industries to improve the efficiency of biomass valorization,” Dr. Minko said. “The research program will resolve the challenges of converting quite complex composition and variable properties lignocellulosic biomass into bioplastics for food packaging, construction materials, fibers, and other commodity plastic applications.”
For more information on the project and ongoing updates, please see https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2422862.
This article originally appeared on the UGA Office of Global Engagement website: https://globalengagement.uga.edu/university-of-georgia-and-university-of-liverpool-research-team-receives-nsf-and-epsrc-funding-for-groundbreaking-sustainable-bioplastics-project/
Research teams from the University of Georgia New Materials Institute will conduct eight projects in 2025 for the Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, or CB2. The 2025 projects were selected at the group’s fall meeting by CB2’s Industry Advisory Board.
Imrie Ross is an undergraduate student who works in the Locklin Group laboratory at the University of Georgia New Materials Institute. Ross is majoring in biochemical engineering with a minor in applied biotechnology.
The Locklin Group is headed by Jason Locklin, a professor in the Department of Chemistry. Locklin is jointly appointed to the UGA College of Engineering, where he is a Distinguished Faculty Scholar. He also serves as director of the UGA New Materials Institute and currently heads the Department of Chemistry in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
Imrie Ross recently spoke with us about her experiences working at the UGA New Materials Institute and the impact of these experiences on her education and career goals. Below is her full interview.
I originally joined the UGA New Materials Institute because I noticed the number of disposable masks littering the UGA campus after the COVID-19 pandemic and felt compelled to find solutions to plastic pollution. I was put into contact with Travis Ichikawa, an assistant research scientist at the UGA New Materials Institute, who mentored me during my first two years at the NMI. After working with Dr. Ichikawa, I transitioned to Dr. Locklin’s group to work on research more closely aligned with my goal of creating alternatives to petroleum-based plastic.
I am interested in the development of novel syntheses and degradation processes of plastic. My main project is to create new monomers and polyesters based on lignin, which is one of the largest natural sources of semi-aromatics. This project has helped develop my knowledge in designing novel polyesters with desirable thermal and mechanical properties.
I have grown tremendously as a student researcher during my time at UGA New Materials Institute. I have become independent in the lab, conducting my own reactions and using different tools to characterize the products. I came to the NMI never having set foot in a lab and now I can run my own chemistry experiments. The work I contributed to last year to synthesize novel polyesters derived from lignin feedstock is now in the process of being published, which is extremely exciting as well.
The UGA New Materials Institute has been instrumental in shaping my undergraduate career and future goals. I had never considered research as a career for myself before UGA, but after working with the NMI, I know it is exactly what I want to do. The work I have done with NMI has given me a sense of purpose and community. The people I work with are extremely talented, supportive and friendly. I am excited to come into the laboratory and work with a variety of people and projects. NMI opened my eyes to the possibilities of research, and I plan to continue researching as a chemical and biomolecular engineering PhD student once I complete my undergraduate program.
Whenever I start in a lab, a large challenge I face is timidness. I feel afraid to make mistakes and worry that I don’t have the necessary knowledge to contribute to anything. Over time, I have learned that making mistakes is part of the process of learning. It is okay to break a piece of glassware or not immediately know what an aqueous workup is. The point of doing research as an undergraduate is to learn from others and develop yourself as a researcher. There is always a learning curve, but persistence and interest will help overcome it.
My work is very motivating because it has a direct contribution to global sustainability. My lab is focused on creating bio-based alternatives to traditional (environmentally persistent) plastic. The goal with our research is to create these polymers with thermal and mechanical properties on-level with current plastic. All of the syntheses we use can be done at industrial scales as well. The polymers my group creates have the potential to replace the unsustainable plastics currently used.
I have gained a plethora of experience in organic synthesis and polymer characterization skills. I have learned how to do many types of reactions and polycondensations, and I have learned how to characterize products with NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy), GPC (gel permeation chromatography), and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), among others. These skills will be invaluable as I continue to research alternatives for current plastic production and methods of degradation.
My largest piece of advice is to be genuinely interested in the work you want to do and find labs with similar goals. It is incredibly rewarding to actively contribute to solving issues or questions that you have a connection with. It makes the experience more real and helps you to see the larger impact.
A pilot program co-managed by researchers from the UGA New Materials Institute to study curbside collection of food scrap and other organic waste in Athens-Clarke County resulted in more than 19 tons of collected material in three months, along with the community’s desire for more.
Congratulations to Brad Gilleland on receiving the 2024 Literary Award from the Association of Medical Illustrators at the group’s annual conference held last month. The Literary Award recognizes an AMI member who contributed an outstanding article to the Journal of Biocommunication, as judged by the journal’s editorial board. Gilleland is a coauthor on our manuscript published by the journal, “A Biologically Degradable and Bioseniatic™ Feedstock for the High-Quality 3D Printing of Medical Illustrations.”
A non-toxic, biologically degradable 3D filament developed for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) had superior degradation and comparable precision in printing instructional and clinical medical specimens, when compared to samples from a conventional 3D filament, according to a study from the University of Georgia New Materials Institute. Additionally, the manuscript to document the study, “A Biologically Degradable and Bioseniatic™ Feedstock for the High-Quality 3D Printing of Medical Illustrations,” has been nominated for the 2024 Literary Award from the Association of Medical Illustrators. The award will be presented later this summer at the group’s annual conference.
The filament, developed by a team at the UGA New Materials Institute, is made from a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate), or PHBHHx, material. Printed cat vertebra, a skull bone, and an aortic arch cast from the PHBHHx-based filament had comparable surface quality when compared to conventional materials. The medical illustrations used to print the samples were designed by co-author Brad Gilleland, a medical illustrator in the Educational Resources Center in the College of Veterinary Medicine, who is a member of the Association of Medical Illustrators.
Samples of the PHBHHx-based extrudates degraded rapidly under industrial composting conditions, in under two months with no visible polymer remaining. Respirometry studies conducted by the UGA New Materials Institute’s Bioseniatic℠ Laboratory found the PHBHHx-based filament met the criteria for it to be described as a Bioseniatic™ material, achieving greater than 90% mineralization within 32 days in industrial composting conditions. No micronized plastic particles larger than 10 microns were formed during biodegradation, per Raman microscopy, and an earthworm study found the PHBHHx filament was nontoxic to Eisenia fetida.
“A Biologically Degradable and Bioseniatic Feedstock for the High-Quality 3D Printing of Medical Illustrations” was published recently in the Journal of Biocommunication, 47(2), https://doi.org/10.5210/jbc.v47i2.13246. Additional co-authors on the study are Joshua C. Bledsoe, Austin F. Wright, Evan M. White, Grant H. Crane, Christopher B. Herron, Jason J. Locklin and Branson W. Ritchie. Their work was funded in part by a grant from the RWDC Environmental Stewardship Foundation.
The UGA New Materials Institute is committed to preventing waste through the design of materials and systems that adhere to Green Engineering principles. The Institute partners with industry and businesses to design materials for their use that are bio-based, fully biodegradable, or completely recyclable, and safe for people, animals and our planet. In addition, it works with businesses, governments, foundations and other organizations to redesign systems so that they generate less waste and promote circularity in materials management. The New Materials Institute is also shaping the future by training the next generation of scientists and engineers on the importance of considering Green Engineering design principles in everything they do. For more information, visit www.newmaterials.uga.edu.