Abstract
Particulate and surfactant systems are an integral part either in processing or product lines in essentially every major industry, including Energy and Minerals, Pharmaceutical, Agriculture & Food, Microelectronics, Healthcare, Cosmetics, Consumer Products, and Analytical Instrumentation & Services. In most applications, product and process specifications depend on the synergistic or competitive interactions between the particles and reagent schemes. The primary goal of our research efforts has been to generate the structure-property-performance correlations-based knowledge and technology platforms for industry to develop more sustainable products and processes. Engineering the physicochemical/mechanical properties of surfaces, particles, and self-assembling surfactant systems enables their enhanced performance in industrial applications. Specifically, understanding and control of the nano and atomic-scale forces between particles and synthesis of functionalized particles form the foundation for targeted contributions in biomedical, advanced materials and minerals, sensor, and coating technologies. A synoptic overview of selected projects is presented in this review. Additional details can be found in the topic-specific references listed at the end of this manuscript.
Highlights
Over the last few decades, the theme of research at the Particle Engineering Research Center (PERC) and subsequently at the Center for Particulate and Surfactant Systems (CPaSS – NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center) has been focused on developing the structure-property-performance correlations in the particle and surfactant systems
Center researchers were approached to study the potential of particle coatings for managing the “Citrus Greening” diseases, which was detected by the Florida citrus growers back in 2005
This study indicated the potential of controlled release of insect repellants as a methodology for crop protection purposes (Sharma et al, 2013b)
Summary
Over the last few decades, the theme of research at the Particle Engineering Research Center (PERC) and subsequently at the Center for Particulate and Surfactant Systems (CPaSS – NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center) has been focused on developing the structure-property-performance correlations in the particle and surfactant systems. Controlled adsorption of molecules on selected particles or moieties is necessary for achieving the desired separation of minerals, and for the release of active ingredients in drug formulations. The synthesis of functional particles has been a major focus of the Center research endeavors. The synthesis protocol of this material was designed based on the “ion memory effect” displayed by specific minerals. Selective uptake by such functional materials is achieved by controlling the spatial arrangement of the structural ions. A novel flotation process based on in-situ generation of gas bubbles on the ink particles as they detach from the fibers was developed to deink wastepaper by PERC researchers (El-Shall et al, 2005)
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