Seminar Speaker: Johan Foster, University of British Columbia

Engineering the Next Generation of Materials Using Bioproducts

Abstract

In recent years, the quest for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions has spurred significant interest in exploring bioproducts for a diverse range of applications. The utilization of bioproducts, derived from renewable biomass sources, presents a promising avenue to address the environmental concerns associated with conventional materials and introduce new functionality. Here we present three vignettes: delving into the synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation of novel bioproducts as potential candidates for a wide range of applications, from automotive components to building materials and water purification.

As the automotive industry strives for increased fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, using bio-based rod-shaped fillers offers a promising avenue to replace conventional materials in key automotive components, significantly reducing overall vehicle weight while maintaining or enhancing mechanical properties.

By harnessing the unique properties of biologically derived additives, we enhance the performance and sustainability of cement-based matrices. Through systematic experimentation, we affect key properties such as workability, mechanical strength, durability, and environmental impact. The outcomes of this study shed light on the promising role of bioproducts in tailoring cement properties, offering a sustainable pathway towards improved construction materials that meet the demands of modern infrastructure while minimizing their ecological footprint.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have garnered substantial attention due to their persistence and adverse effects on human health and the environment. By leveraging the intrinsic structure of a modified and carbonized pulp fiber, this study investigates its efficacy in breaking down PFAS compounds into environmentally benign constituents.

Through a judicious selection of biomaterials and innovative processing techniques, this research not only underscores the viability of bioproducts as functional replacements but also highlights their potential to surpass the performance of traditional counterparts. The findings of these studies hold significant implications for sustainable evolution technologies, fostering a greener and more efficient future.

Biography

Johan Foster is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) at the Faculty of Applied Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and holds the NSERC Canfor Industrial Research Chair in Advanced Bioproducts. Previously, he held a position in Materials Science and Engineering at Virginia Tech University and before that at the Adolphe Merkle Institute in Fribourg, Switzerland. Dr. Foster has co-authored over 110 original research papers in high-impact journals, as well as 10 patents. His research focuses on the design, synthesis and engineering of bio-inspired functional polymers and nanocomposites, including nanocellulose. Novel bio-derived materials developed through his research are finding use or commercial potential in cartilage tissue engineering, in drug-release formulations to improve tissue response to mechanically adaptive cortical implants, in fragrance-release technologies, and in highly novel photo-switchable nanocomposite materials, among a range of many promising applications. Dr. Foster has received as a PI or co-applicant over $15 million in competitively peer-reviewed funding and has trained 75 HQPs in the past five years alone. In the past few years, he was recognized by his peers with three major international awards: the Kingfa Young Investigator by the American Chemical Society Cellulose Division, the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Nanotechnology Division Mid-Career Award and recognized as a Fellow of the American Chemical Society Polymer Chemistry Division. The awards recognized Dr. Foster’s world-leading research in the areas of cellulosic and polymeric materials by international organizations. Johan serves as Chair of the nanotechnology division of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry and was chair and organizer of TAPPI NANO 2023. He is a member of five peer-reviewed journal editorial boards.