Activiteit: Outreach › Professional
Despite being often designed for short-term use, personal care & hygiene products contain persistent polymeric materials that can generate significant plastic pollution, including microplastics. Most of the commercial polymers used for such applications are non-recyclable, due to cross-linking (such as superabsorbent polymers in diapers and feminine care products), or impossible to recover, as they are simply washed away during or after use (e.g., thickeners, conditioners, film-formers present in cosmetics and/or detergents). Moreover, these polymers are often fossil-based. The search for more sustainable replacements for these polymers is an active field of research. Most strategies try to replace polymers currently used in these sectors with bio-based and biodegradable ones. However, the design and synthesis of such polymers pose significant scientific challenges. This seminar will illustrate current progress in this exciting and societally relevant field.