BPI Seminar by Dr. Faezeh Hajiali

TITTLE

Beyond Conventional: A Journey into Sustainable Materials for Industry

LOCATION: KAIS #2020 on the 2nd Floor of Fred Kaiser Building located at 2332 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4

AGENDA

• 12:30pm Introduction by Dr. Naoko Ellis
• 12:35pm Keynote by Dr. Faye Hajiali, Postdoctoral Fellow, UBC Chemical & Biological Engineering
• 1:15pm   Q&A

*Sandwiches and coffee will be provided from 12pm.

ABSTRACT

The pursuit of sustainable materials for industrial applications is a significant endeavour, marked by both intricate challenges and promising opportunities. This presentation provides a multifaceted approach to harnessing bio-based raw materials, including terpenes from pine sap, vegetable oils, and bioplastics from crustacean shell waste, within a versatile system. Employing solid-state techniques such as mechanochemistry and aging, we demonstrate a method that significantly reduces energy consumption and liquid chemical usage compared to conventional processes. Through this approach, we extract biopolymers such as chitin from biomass and engineer diverse structures, from ultra-high molecular weight chitosan to nanocrystals, with applications spanning flocculants for wastewater treatment, drug delivery systems, and beyond. The use of controlled radical miniemulsion polymerization as a highly scalable and versatile technique is also demonstrated, enabling the incorporation of functional groups. This facilitates the development of “smart” polymers with self-healing properties and self-extinguishable coatings for the aerospace industry. We explore critical considerations for production processes, including scalability, safety protocols, and strategies for mitigating environmental impact. By elucidating the intersection of sustainability imperatives with industrial requirements, our aim is to advance sustainable functional materials and inspire collective efforts toward fostering a more environmentally responsible industrial landscape.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Faye Hajiali holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, where she focused on developing sustainable functional materials for the aerospace industry in collaboration with Safran. She investigated scalable methods for biobased polymers, prioritizing low VOC, sustainable, and "smart" materials. Post-Ph.D., at McGill's Department of Chemistry, she explored “green” techniques for extracting bioplastics from crustacean shell waste. Collaborating with Parks Canada, she developed highly scalable methods reducing energy and chemical consumption in chitin production. Later, Faye joined Hydron Energy Inc. as a Lead Scientist contributing to the development of materials for RNG upgrading, where she navigated materials development from the laboratory bench to large-scale industrial production. Recently, Faye has joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at UBC to focus on advancing sustainable materials, contributing to the journey towards a net-zero future.