Natural Polymers & Materials

CHEM-4610

Natural and biobased polymers are of increasing importance as society evolves from using carbon from petroleum to readily renewable carbon sources. Using polymers as an example, the course will introduce students to important concepts in green chemistry and sustainability. Interdisciplinary approaches to polymer synthesis that combine biocatalysis and chemical methods is described. A primer will be provided on general concepts in polymer and material science so that Introduction to Polymer Chemistry is not a required pre-requisite. All lectures are interweaved with examples of applications to provide students insights on how natural and biobased polymers are both used in everyday applications such as biodegradable plastics, thickeners, bioactives, nanomaterials and as bioresorbable medical materials.

3 credits
Prereqs:
none

Past Term Data

Offered
Not Offered
Offered as Cross-Listing Only
No Term Data
Spring Summer Fall
(Session 1) (Session 2)
2025
Natural Polymers & Materials (3c)
  • Richard Alan Gross
Seats Taken: 0/20
2024
Natural Polymers & Materials (3c)
  • Richard Alan Gross
Seats Taken: 7/20
2023
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