BPI Seminar by Dr. Yixiang Wang
March 18, 2025, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
From Cellulosic Waste to Functional Food Packaging
Location: CHBE #202, 2360 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4
Agenda
- 10:00 AM Intro by Dr. Feng Jiang
- 10:05 AM Presentation by Dr. Yixiang Wang, Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University
- 10:45 AM Q&A
*Light refreshments will be provided.
Abstract
Nowadays, non-degradable plastic materials have created significant disposal and pollution issues threatening human health, development, and even survival, and natural polymers widely exist as by-products or waste, which have low value, and the disposal via landfill or incineration causes environmental problem and represents a waste of useful resources. Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer, and the recycling and reusing of cellulosic waste have been attracting increasing attention. To relieve environmental concerns generated from petroleum products and add value to biomass waste and by-products, we explored the possibilities to convert waste paper, cotton fabric, fallen leaves, and cigarette filters into functional nanofillers, Pickering emulsion coatings, biodegradable packaging films, and 3D absorbents, and studied their potential applications in food preservation and water treatment.
About the Speaker
Dr. Yixiang Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry at McGill University. Dr. Wang received his BSc in Chemistry and Doctoral degree in Polymer Chemistry and Physics from Wuhan University, China. Following a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Alberta, Dr. Wang worked there as a Research Associate from 2012 to 2017. Dr. Wang conducts research related to the fabrication of natural polymer-based nano/micro particles, nano/micro-fibers, composite films, and hydrogels, and the understanding of relationship between molecular structure and functional properties. The overall aim is to explore a systematic approach to develop value-added applications of natural polymers in functional food and biodegradable materials. Dr. Wang has authored/co-authored more than 100 journal articles, and has been serving as reviewer for many leading journals in the fields of food, polymer, and materials.