User talk:Zain Fatima

Project Summary (Aim and Objectives):

The project seeks to create green-synthesized multifunctional hybrid nanomaterials from underused plant-based mucilages using thin-film microfluidic technology-enabled fabricated to be used in wastewater treatment and environmental sensing targeting potentiating their construction, composition, and efficiency. Objectives include:

• To extend the use of a renewable plant mucilage base (such as quince seed) to act as a matrix to synthesize metal or MOF nanoparticles locally.

• To investigate thin film vortex or spiral microfluidic systems to generate biopolymer - metal or biopolymer -MOF composite in a controlled manner.

• To develop materials that can be used in a dual mode: degradation of pollutants (catalytic/adsorptive) and sensing (electrochemical or optical).

• To test by use of real wastewater samples and compare to standard methods.

Relation with Flinders Research and Work of Proposed Supervisor:

The project has direct relevance to research themes of Professor Raston, especially clean technology and microfluidic synthesis. The project will incorporate the thin film devices in guiding self-assembly and growth of metal or MOF nanostructures in a biomass derived hydrogel matrix, to broaden lab’s work in green nanocomposites and study its prospects in wastewater remediation and development of sensors as well. Moreover, the project fits the interests of bottom-up nanomaterials production, biomass exploitation, device-oriented environmental remedies.

Literature review and Gap in the Research:

Recent association of increased water purification and pollutant detection demand has resulted into explosion of studies relating to green nanomaterials. Although a great number of inorganic nanomaterial studies have been conducted, there is a low number of studies performed where biopolymers obtained by biomass synthesis are integrated with high-performance catalysts in controlled synthesis. The recent literature shows the emerging potential of thin film microfluidics as a method of tuning reaction kinetics, but little research has been done with the concept of bio inorganic hybrid material synthesis. Use of microfluidics to make plant-based nanocomposites brings innovativeness to the material formulation and the processing approach as well at least on the principles of zero-waste synthesis.