Catalytic production of monomers for sustainable polymers from carbon dioxide and diols
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Polymers, better known as plastics, are widespread in modern society as they are light, strong, and cheap. Their demand is dramatically increasing and in 2013, 299 megatonnes of plastics were produced worldwide, a 46.5% increase compared to 2002 (source: plasticseurope). However, polymers are regarded as unsustainable as they are environmentally persistent and their production is dependent on finite fossil-based resources. In 2013, 99.5% of plastics were still produced from oil (source: europeanbioplastics). There is therefore an urgent need for further research into the production of sustainable plastics.
Additionally, in 2014, 32.3 gigatonnes of waste carbon dioxide (CO2) were released into the atmosphere (source: International Energy Agency). Therefore, polymers made from a cheap and renewable resource like CO2 are highly desirable products.
The aim of this proposal is to utilise CO2 as a raw material in the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers, which are the building blocks of polycarbonate polymers. Polycarbonates are furthermore promising materials for numerous applications, including as thermoplastics, binders for photovoltaics, polymer electrolytes, adhesives, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery carriers.
The current method used to produce cyclic carbonate monomers employs phosgene, a toxic and energy intensive reagent. Replacing phosgene by CO2 is an exciting scientific challenge that has the potential to transform the economy and impact the environment. Building on our published preliminary results and using an experimental and computational approach, this project will develop catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers directly from CO2 and diols, abundant molecules that can be sourced from nature. These catalysts will ultimately be used to transform carbohydrates from biomass and food waste into new monomers that cannot be accessed using traditional phosgene reagents. This process will provide a vital step towards the valorisation of CO2 and the derivatisation of renewable feedstock like carbohydrates into novel sustainable materials that could generate significant wealth within the UK.
Additionally, in 2014, 32.3 gigatonnes of waste carbon dioxide (CO2) were released into the atmosphere (source: International Energy Agency). Therefore, polymers made from a cheap and renewable resource like CO2 are highly desirable products.
The aim of this proposal is to utilise CO2 as a raw material in the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers, which are the building blocks of polycarbonate polymers. Polycarbonates are furthermore promising materials for numerous applications, including as thermoplastics, binders for photovoltaics, polymer electrolytes, adhesives, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery carriers.
The current method used to produce cyclic carbonate monomers employs phosgene, a toxic and energy intensive reagent. Replacing phosgene by CO2 is an exciting scientific challenge that has the potential to transform the economy and impact the environment. Building on our published preliminary results and using an experimental and computational approach, this project will develop catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers directly from CO2 and diols, abundant molecules that can be sourced from nature. These catalysts will ultimately be used to transform carbohydrates from biomass and food waste into new monomers that cannot be accessed using traditional phosgene reagents. This process will provide a vital step towards the valorisation of CO2 and the derivatisation of renewable feedstock like carbohydrates into novel sustainable materials that could generate significant wealth within the UK.
Planned Impact
This project will benefit many stakeholders by meeting the urgent requirements of CO2 utilisation and providing a safe route towards novel sustainable polymer architectures.
Exploiting waste CO2 and sugars to form essential monomers for the creation of sustainable novel materials will positively impact on the UK's economic, environmental, research and industrial agendas in the medium and long term.
A safe and environmentally benign method to access cyclic monomers and sustainable polymeric materials will not only serve the synthetic chemistry community, but will help to advance materials and biomedical sciences too. In particular the health sector will benefit from new polycarbonate materials that have displayed promising properties as drug delivery systems and supports for tissue engineering, and that could dramatically improve our quality of life.
There is a high consumer demand for useful bio-based plastics for niche applications, including portable electronics. The project could generate new products and companies focusing on the derivatisation of food waste and biomass to produce high-value advanced monomers and polymers, which would create a significant amount of wealth.
Our research will lead to the improvement of existing processes that currently use phosgene derivatives. Replacing this hazardous chemical by CO2, a non-toxic waste from many industries, will have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the energy consumption associated with the production of phosgene, and by marginally contributing to greenhouse gas emission mitigation. This will also make the plastic industry a safer and less polluting working environment. Additionally, the environmental impact of our research will include the development of monomers for commodity and speciality polymers that are biodegradable thanks to a carbohydrate backbone.
Finally, this project will be an excellent opportunity to showcase how physical sciences can address environmental and societal problems. The recycling of waste CO2 gas, reusing food waste and the production of degradable polymers are all areas that capture the public interest and support. This interest will allow the PI to further engage the general public and young audiences in the concept of sustainability and raise the awareness of the potential of physical sciences.
Exploiting waste CO2 and sugars to form essential monomers for the creation of sustainable novel materials will positively impact on the UK's economic, environmental, research and industrial agendas in the medium and long term.
A safe and environmentally benign method to access cyclic monomers and sustainable polymeric materials will not only serve the synthetic chemistry community, but will help to advance materials and biomedical sciences too. In particular the health sector will benefit from new polycarbonate materials that have displayed promising properties as drug delivery systems and supports for tissue engineering, and that could dramatically improve our quality of life.
There is a high consumer demand for useful bio-based plastics for niche applications, including portable electronics. The project could generate new products and companies focusing on the derivatisation of food waste and biomass to produce high-value advanced monomers and polymers, which would create a significant amount of wealth.
Our research will lead to the improvement of existing processes that currently use phosgene derivatives. Replacing this hazardous chemical by CO2, a non-toxic waste from many industries, will have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the energy consumption associated with the production of phosgene, and by marginally contributing to greenhouse gas emission mitigation. This will also make the plastic industry a safer and less polluting working environment. Additionally, the environmental impact of our research will include the development of monomers for commodity and speciality polymers that are biodegradable thanks to a carbohydrate backbone.
Finally, this project will be an excellent opportunity to showcase how physical sciences can address environmental and societal problems. The recycling of waste CO2 gas, reusing food waste and the production of degradable polymers are all areas that capture the public interest and support. This interest will allow the PI to further engage the general public and young audiences in the concept of sustainability and raise the awareness of the potential of physical sciences.
Publications
Gregory G
(2017)
Polymers from sugars and CO 2 : ring-opening polymerisation and copolymerisation of cyclic carbonates derived from 2-deoxy- d -ribose
in Polymer Chemistry
Gregory G
(2017)
CO 2 -Driven stereochemical inversion of sugars to create thymidine-based polycarbonates by ring-opening polymerisation
in Polymer Chemistry
Gregory G
(2016)
Polymers from Sugars and CO 2 : Synthesis and Polymerization of a d -Mannose-Based Cyclic Carbonate
in Macromolecules
Gregory GL
(2017)
Polymers from sugars: cyclic monomer synthesis, ring-opening polymerisation, material properties and applications.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
López-Vidal E
(2018)
Polymers from sugars and CS 2 : synthesis and ring-opening polymerisation of sulfur-containing monomers derived from 2-deoxy- d -ribose and d -xylose
in Polymer Chemistry
McGuire T
(2021)
Control of Crystallinity and Stereocomplexation of Synthetic Carbohydrate Polymers from d - and l -Xylose
in Angewandte Chemie
McGuire T
(2018)
Synthesis of 5- to 8-membered cyclic carbonates from diols and CO2: A one-step, atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature procedure
in Journal of CO2 Utilization
McGuire T
(2021)
Polymers from sugars and CS 2 : ring opening copolymerisation of a d -xylose anhydrosugar oxetane
in Polymer Chemistry
McGuire T
(2020)
Epoxy-functionalised 4-vinylguaiacol for the synthesis of bio-based, degradable star polymers via a RAFT/ROCOP strategy
in Polymer Chemistry
McGuire T
(2021)
Polymers from Sugars and Cyclic Anhydrides: Ring-Opening Copolymerization of a d -Xylose Anhydrosugar Oxetane
in Macromolecules
Title | Expression of Research |
Description | A collaboration was initiated with local artist Fiona Haines and the resulting artwork was exposed at the Bath Fringe festival and will tour Bath and North East Somerset district in 2017. |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Impact | Engagement of the art community with research. |
URL | http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/news/2016/11/16/expressions-of-research/ |
Description | We have developed a new method that allows the direct coupling of diols with CO2 to produce cyclic carbonate monomers for polymerisation, without the use of phosgene derivatives, the toxic reagents traditionnally used. This process furthermore works under very mild conditions (ambient temperature and low pressure of CO2). Through the research funded by this grant, we have improved our previously developed method into a partially catalytic system, hence using less costly reagents. We are still working towards a more efficient and fully catalytic process, one that would use the minimum amount of reagents to perform the coupling of CO2 and diols. Finally, using this method, we have been able to produce new monomers made from CO2 and sugar derivatives. These monomers have produced entirely novel renewable and degradable materials. We have also been able to transfer this technology to molecules analogues to CO2: CS2 (toxic solvent used in Industry) and COS (waste gas for the combustion of sulfur-containing compounds, such as tyres etc). |
Exploitation Route | The publications resulting from this grant have already attracted a lot of attention from the sustainable polymer and carbon dioxide utilisation community. We are aware of two groups (one in the US, one is Saudi Arabia) that are currently using our published method for the synthesis of new monomers using CO2. Furthermore, our CO2 methodology has been taken up by other groups and investigated further: Journal of CO2 Utilization, Volume 38, May 2020, Pages 88-98 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212982019309692#fig0070 More widely, this work has been explicitely named in high profile reviews such as : - Chem. Rev. 2018, 118, 2, 839-885 - Chem. Soc. Rev., 2019, 48, 4466-4514 - ACS Catal. 2019, 9, 9, 8012-8067 - Green Chem., 2021, 23, 1077-1113 - Chem. Rev. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00883 We have also started collaborations with groups in Japan and France to apply our methodology to substrates derived from lignin and from fatty acids. The new materials we have been able to produce using CO2 (in particular with sugars) have been of interest to tissue engineering/drug delivery research and we have initiated work on this aspect with collaborators, specialist of the medical applications of biopolymers. |
Sectors | Chemicals Environment Healthcare |
URL | http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/news/2017/06/12/scientists-make-plastic-from-sugar-and-carbon-dioxide |
Description | We have started to collaborate with sugar producers (including in the UK and abroad) to transform some of their waste streams using the technology developed within this award. Some industrial funding (fully funded PhD studentship 3.5 years) has been generated yet. If preliminary results are promising, this would have a great impact, including economic, for the valorisation of waste, but also for the production of sustainable polymers from biomass. Recently (2021), we have started to work with the UK forest industry to valorise some abundant wood-sugars into advanced materials and chemicals. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Environment |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | A functional xylose polymer platform for sustainable plastics and biomaterials |
Amount | £135,592 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RGF\R1\180036 Research Grants for Research Fellows 2017 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | Hub 'Science' 3: Catalysis for the Circular Economy and Sustainable Manufacturing |
Amount | £3,938,126 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R027129/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2018 |
End | 11/2024 |
Description | NERC GW4+ DTP Studenship |
Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2022 |
End | 03/2026 |
Description | Research Fellows Enhanced Research Expenses 2021 - RF\ERE\210056 |
Amount | £169,414 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2021 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | Research Fellows Enhanced Research Expenses 2022 |
Amount | £225,141 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RF\ERE\221006 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2022 |
End | 09/2025 |
Description | Researcher Mobility Grant |
Amount | £7,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2017 |
End | 04/2018 |
Description | Royal Society URF Enhancement Award |
Amount | £107,992 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RGF\EA\180028 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2017 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | Royal Society University Research Fellowship |
Amount | £490,971 (GBP) |
Funding ID | UF160021 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | University Research Fellowships Renewals 2022 - Project: Sugar-based Polymers as Polysaccharide and Glycan Mimics |
Amount | £394,427 (GBP) |
Funding ID | URF\R\221027 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2022 |
End | 09/2025 |
Title | Method for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from diols and CO2: |
Description | We have developed a one-step, atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature procedure for the synthesis of 5- to 8-membered cyclic carbonates from diols and CO2. This represents an alternative to phosgene methods. It can be used by any labs and facilitates the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | We have several outgoing collaboration with research labs that are now using our method to make these monomers. Interest reaches beyond academia to industrial partners too. This novel methodologies has been featured in several reviews: - Chem. Soc. Rev., 2019, 48, 4466-4514 Advances in the use of CO2 as a renewable feedstock for the synthesis of polymers - ACS Catal. 2019, 9, 9, 8012-8067 Catalytic Approaches to Monomers for Polymers Based on Renewables - Catalysts 2019, 9(6), 511 Recent Advances in the Chemical Fixation of Carbon Dioxide: A Green Route to Carbonylated Heterocycle Synthesis - ChemSusChem2020,13,469 -487 Update and Challenges in Carbon Dioxide-Based Polycarbonate Synthesis This research has also been investigated further by other groups around the world: - Simple and Efficient Synthesis of Functionalized Cyclic Carbonate Monomers Using Carbon Dioxide https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00060 - Highly Reactive Cyclic Carbonates with a Fused Ring toward Functionalizable and Recyclable Polycarbonates https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00653 - The coupling of CO2 with diols promoted by organic dual systems: Towards products divergence via benchmarking of the performance metrics https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212982019309692 |
URL | https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/publications/synthesis-of-5-to-8-membered-cyclic-carbonates-fro... |
Title | CCDC 1523960: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Georgina L. Gregory, Elizabeth M. Hierons, Gabriele Kociok-Köhn, Ram I. Sharma, Antoine Buchard|2017|Polym.Chem.|8|1714|doi:10.1039/C7PY00118E |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1n4t0m&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 1523961: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Georgina L. Gregory, Elizabeth M. Hierons, Gabriele Kociok-Köhn, Ram I. Sharma, Antoine Buchard|2017|Polym.Chem.|8|1714|doi:10.1039/C7PY00118E |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1n4t1n&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 1532104: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Georgina L. Gregory, Gabriele Kociok-Köhn, Antoine Buchard|2017|Polym.Chem.|8|2093|doi:10.1039/C7PY00236J |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1nf8q2&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 1532105: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Georgina L. Gregory, Gabriele Kociok-Köhn, Antoine Buchard|2017|Polym.Chem.|8|2093|doi:10.1039/C7PY00236J |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1nf8r3&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 1583233: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Eva M. López-Vidal, Georgina L. Gregory, Gabriele Kociok-Köhn, Antoine Buchard|2018|Polym.Chem.|9|1577|doi:10.1039/C8PY00119G |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1q4h1d&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 1583234: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Eva M. López-Vidal, Georgina L. Gregory, Gabriele Kociok-Köhn, Antoine Buchard|2018|Polym.Chem.|9|1577|doi:10.1039/C8PY00119G |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1q4h2f&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 1583235: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Eva M. López-Vidal, Georgina L. Gregory, Gabriele Kociok-Köhn, Antoine Buchard|2018|Polym.Chem.|9|1577|doi:10.1039/C8PY00119G |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1q4h3g&sid=DataCite |
Description | Cyclic carbonates from CO2 and fatty acid derivatives |
Organisation | University of Bordeaux |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a collaboration between my research group at the University of Bath and the group of Dr Etienne Grau and Prof Henri Cramail at the Unviersity of Bordeaux in Francen, which involves the utilisation of the method developed as part of the award for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers from CO2 and diols. We have started to explore the synthesis of new monomers from starting materials provided by our French collaborators. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project partners provide us with starting materials to be transformed using CO2 into novel cyclic monomers. We will then jointly explore their polymerisation. |
Impact | The results were not as good as initially thought. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | The synthesis of CO2, glycerol and lignin-derived polymers |
Organisation | Nagoya University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a collaboration between my research group at the University of Bath and the group of Prof Kamigaito and Nagoya University in Japan, which involves the utilisation of the method developed as part of the award for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers from CO2 and diols. We have started to explore the synthesis of new monomers from starting materials provided by our japanese collaborators. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project partners provide us with starting materials to be transformed using CO2 into novel cyclic monomers. They will then explore their polymerisation. |
Impact | A JSPS summer fellowship was secured for one PhD student to spend some time in Japan in the groupf of Professor Kamigaito. A publication resulted from the collaboration: Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 5844-5850 https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/py/d0py00878h |
Start Year | 2019 |
Title | POLYMERISATION PROCESSES |
Description | A polymerisation process is disclosed, the process having the steps of providing an oxetane derivative of a monosaccharide, providing an anionic initiator, forming a reaction mixture comprising the oxetane derivative of the monosaccharide and the anionic initiator, and initiating ring opening polymerisation reaction of the oxetane moiety of the oxetane derivative of the monosaccharide in the reaction mixture, thereby producing a polyether. The monosaccharide may be pentose or a hexose or a derivative of a pentose or hexose. The pentose may be xylose, in D or L form, or a mixture of D and L form. The hexose may be a derivative of galactose. Also disclosed are polyurethanes being a reaction product of an isocyanate and a polyether. |
IP Reference | WO2022034321 |
Protection | Patent / Patent application |
Year Protection Granted | 2022 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | We are currently collaborating with several major global companies to exploit commercially the applications of the polymers described in this patent. This includes works within the Innovation Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies (iCAST; http://icast.org.uk/), to accelerate translation of our research to commercial settings. |
Description | Bath Science and Policy event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | This event was a public debate and Q&A session, free to attend, about the interaction between science and policy, in relation to the current political landscape and in relation with environmental issues like CO2 emissions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Carbon dioxide Utilisation conference (Sheffield) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talk at the International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilisation organised in Sheffield by CO2Chem network, in september 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Co2 utilisation-based Undergraduate lab experiment |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Based on our research, we have designed and implemented a 3rd year laboratory experiment showcasing CO2 utilisation catalytic reactions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
Description | Combating Pollution Through New Biodegradable Plastics |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public discussion as part of the Minerva Lecture Series from the University of Bath |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.bath.ac.uk/events/combating-pollution-through-new-biodegradable-plastics/ |
Description | Functionalised and Sustainable Polymers from Sugars |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Invited lecture - RSC Bristol and District Section Annual General Assembly |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.rsc.org/events/detail/40904/functionalised-and-sustainable-polymers-from-sugars-2020-agm... |
Description | Interview BBC Bristol radio |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The university published a press release about my research: https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/scientists-make-plastic-more-degradable-under-uv-light/. This press release attracted a lot of attention, from the general and specialised public and from Industry (new contacts initiated with companies such as Reckitt or Ingevity). Overall, this press release has generated 79 articles across online and print and broadcast outlets, 282 million total news reach across 6 continents, mostly in USA and India, 1,200 impressions on Twitter and £2.6 million worth of Advertising Value Equivalent (data provided by University of Bath Media team). I was interviewed about this research on BBC Bristol radio (7 June 2022). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invited Seminar (Monash University) - Polymers from sugars towards renewable and functionalisable materials |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited Virtual Seminar (Monahs) - Polymers from sugars towards renewable and functionalisable materials 15 April 2020 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Invited Seminar (Warwick) - Polymers from sugars towards renewable and functionalisable materials |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited research seminar at the University of Warwick. 24 April 2020. Polymers from sugars towards renewable and functionalisable materials |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Invited Shutdown Webinar - Polymers from sugars towards renewable and functionalisable materials |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited Shutdown Webinar - Polymers from sugars towards renewable and functionalisable materials 7 April 2020 Around 150 participants Live. Total views on Youtube: 791 (2 May 2020) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD8xBDg3n6I |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD8xBDg3n6I |
Description | Invited talk (Notthingham) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited talk at a workshop in Green Chemistry organised by the CDT in Green chemistry of the University of Nottingham (December 2016). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Outreach video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | OUtreach video published on the vimeo platform and shared on social medi (facebook, internet, facebook).Statistics for the video on facebook are: 4,158 views, 209 reactions (likes), 31 shares |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://vimeo.com/223101471 |
Description | Press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The university published a press release about the project's research: http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/news/2017/06/12/scientists-make-plastic-from-sugar-and-carbon-dioxide. This press release attraced a lot of attention, from the general public and from Industry. This has been in particular covered by the World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/10/scientists-have-made-biodegradable-plastic-from-sugar-and-carbon-dioxide/ . Overall, this press release has generated: 55 articles across online and print outlets, 3.7 million total news reach and £123,000 worth of Advertising Value Equivalent. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/news/2017/06/12/scientists-make-plastic-from-sugar-and-carbon-dioxide |
Description | RWTH Aachen University 12th new year symposium (invited talk) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited talk at RWTH Aachen University to present works in front of academic and industrial audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.iac.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/finfh?lidx=1 |