We focus on a wide range of interdisciplinary, polymer-related research including but not limited to:
■ Multifunctional Biodegradable Polymers
In order to give additional functions and higher performance physical properties of polymers. Not only the general synthetic polymers are modified, but the multifunctional biodegradable polymers are also designed for improved their properties in order to its well-suits for applications. For example, the antibacterial materials for medical application, electrical and thermal resistance materials, and fully biodegradation materials.
Ref. :T. Jamnongkan et. al., South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2021, 35, 14-22.
■ Functional Nanofibers Fabrication
Nanotechnology is an exciting research topic for researchers in academia and industrial fields due to it forming matter at the nano range with more enhanced features compared to its bulk counterparts. Functional nanofibers materials by bio-based polymers are designed. These nanofibers find applications in various fields, including wound dressing, tissue engineering, filtration, energy storage, adsorbents, and so on. Thus, we enthusiasm to produce the functionalities of biocomposite nanofibers, being its utmost interest as an environmentally friendly materials, for potentially specific applications. For example, nonwoven fabric of bio-based polymers, i.e., polylactic acid, chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, etc., for antibacterial materials by electrospinning process method.
Ref. :A.Khankhuean et. al., South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2021, 37, 179-185. T. Jamnongkan et al., Polymers, 2024, 16, 409.
■ Polymer Processing & Biobased Materials
Polymer Processing might be defined as the method of converting raw polymeric materials, i.e., pellet or powder, into finished products of desirable shape, microstructure and properties. Our research focused on the processing-structure-properties relationships in polymeric materials. The materials studied include neat polymers, polymer blends, polymer composites and nanocomposites. The main current research topics are those devoted to polymer blends and polymer nanocomposites. Especially, the bio-based polymers and related functional composite materials display a remarkably high potential and hold the promise to be the materials of the future.
■ Upcycling Performance Polymer
Recently, the global research in the areas of advanced materials and manufacturing is all about making value-added products which under the concept of its smarter, more durable, and more performance. New materials with improved multi-functional, i.e. mechanical, thermal, electrical, chemical, and biological properties, are being researched as key enablers for major industrial innovations and for the competitiveness of enterprises across the entire technological spectra. Thus, it has been a challenge in establishing a cost-effective method to solve these problems. Upcycling or recycling plastic waste based on circular economy concept is also an effectively alternative ways for manage and reduce the plastic wastes on the environmental problems. This research group is to develop alternatively upcycling polymer wastes with good performance and acceptable mechanical properties for various applications.
Ref. :T. Jamnongkan et. al., Polymers, 2022, 14, 5482.
■ PET catalyst degradation
The global production and use of PET bottles have led to significant plastic waste, causing environmental pollution and reducing landfill space. We focus on the develop catalysts for the purpose of catalyzing the glycolysis of PET waste bottles. Here, the catalysts are conveniently prepared, reusable, and environmentally friendly. The catalyst we developed has the potential to be further enhanced in the future to enable industrial-scale PET bottle degradation.
Ref. : P. Srisuratsiri et. al., AIMS Environmental Science, 2024, 11, 90-106.
■ Heterogeneous Photocatalyst
In the past decades, efficient energy and environmentally friendly procedures have been studied to degrade the organic pollutant from industrial wastewater discharging. One of the sustainable approaches is semiconductor photocatalysis in which natural sunlight harvested by semiconductors is transformed into chemical energy power needed in the degradation of organic pollutants including dye molecules. We reported on the fabrication and photocatalytic application of a new ternary BiVO4/rGO/BiOBr heterostructure. A facile one-step hydrothermal synthesis was employed to obtain strong interactions and close interfacial contacts. The developed material provides more than 7-fold and 2-fold higher activity than the single and binary photocatalytic systems respectively.
Ref. : K. Wangkawong et. al., Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 2024, 162, 112260.
■ Process Design and Analysis
Currently, greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are the primary cause of climate change. Given Thailand’s significant agricultural activities, biomass-based resources are considered potential renewable feedstock for the sustainable and synergetic production of food, bioenergy, and bio-based products. The aim of the present study is to design a process of furfural production using RD to achieve high yield and purity of furfural. A process design and optimal configuration of the RD column are presented by considering the effects of various key parameters.
Ref. : K. Wiranarongkorn et. al., Energy, 2021, 226, 120339.
