Speaker: Prof. Hiroshi Uyama，Osaka University

Title: Bioplastics and Cellulose

Time: November 14th 8:00 a.m.

Venue: online meeting room

Tencent Meeting, Account ID: 546 664 887

All students and faculties are welcome to join this lecture.

School of Molecular Science and Engineering

South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology

November 9, 2020

Abstract

（1）Bioplastics

This lecture deals with basics of bioplastics and their recent advances. Bioplastics consist of biodegradable plastics and biomass plastics. Biodegradable plastics are decomposed by the action of living organisms into water and carbon dioxide. Use of bioresources as starting substrate of polymeric materials reduces greenhouse warming and contributes to global sustainability without depletion of scarce fossil resources. In this class, concept, typical examples, and commercial products of bioplastics are mentioned.

（2）Cellulose

Cellulose is the most abundant organic compound on earth and has a linear structure of D-glucose repeating unit. It is one of the three major structural components of the primary cell walls of green plants, along with hemi-cellulose and lignin. This class explains fundamental structure and property of cellulose, important industrial products of modified cellulose, and cellulose nanofibers which are recently expected as new functional materials. 

Brief Biography

Hiroshi Uyama is a full professor of Osaka University, Japan. He obtained M.S. degree and Ph.D. degree from Kyoto University and Tohoku University, respectively. Prof. Uyama joined the School of Engineering of Osaka University in 2004. He has a short work experience at KAO company and a long work history of 8 years at Kyoto University. At present, his researches mainly focus on renewable polymer materials, functional biomaterials, and porous materials. He has already published more than 410 papers and 150 patents.