RENEWABLES

The Mellichamp Chair in Green Chemistry, Professor Mahdi Abu-Omar, along with his research group and in collaboration with the other Mellichamp chairs create chemistry to deconstruct non-edible biomass to molecules that can be used to make recyclable plastics. Together they investigate ways to lower the environmental impacts of plastics manufacturing and its production processes.

 

The plastics created by the Abu-Omar research group are designed to be recycled while also matching the performance of plastics made from petroleum feedstocks. The group focuses their research on the structural component of biomass, lignin, to make high-value molecules and recyclable thermoset plastics. They also investigate catalysts for upcycling of petroleum plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene into valuable chemicals.