Project Info
Polymers from Renewable Resources
Daniel Knauss
dknauss@mines.edu
Project Goals and Description:
The goals are to investigate the synthesis of modified polymers and copolymers from renewable resource materials such as lactic acid.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Develop carbon sequestration methods.
Poly(lactic acid), ISBN 978-0-470-29366-9
Primary Contacts:
Daniel Knauss, dknauss@mines.edu
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Completed organic chemistry sequence. Having taken or enrolled for fall in Introduction to Polymer Science would be a plus.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
6
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
Polymer and organic chemistry synthesis and characterization as well as writing skills. The student will work with graduate students and independently on the preparation of new monomers and the formation of block copolymers and functionalized polymers. The new polymers will be characterized through chemical techniques and through mechanical property evaluation.
MENTORING PLAN
The student will participate in group meetings as well as weekly one-on-one meetings with the professor. Overall semester goals will be determined at the beginning of the semester and biweekly milestones will be set as discussion points for addressing progress during meetings. The student will be mentored on literature searching and individual laboratory techniques during the semester.
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Junior
Senior