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Award Abstract #0086876
Monodisperse Block Copolymers for Environmentally-Friendly Processing of Aqueous Metal Oxide Suspensions
| NSF Org: |
CBET
Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
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| Initial Amendment Date: |
September 6, 2000 |
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| Latest Amendment Date: |
September 6, 2000 |
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| Award Number: |
0086876 |
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| Award Instrument: |
Standard Grant |
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| Program Manager: |
Nicholas Clesceri
CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
ENG Directorate for Engineering
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| Start Date: |
September 15, 2000 |
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| Expires: |
August 31, 2003 (Estimated) |
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| Awarded Amount to Date: |
$199977 |
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| Investigator(s): |
Richey Davis rmdavis@vt.edu (Principal Investigator)
William Ducker (Co-Principal Investigator)
Kevin Van Cott (Co-Principal Investigator)
Christopher Russell (Co-Principal Investigator)
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| Sponsor: |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
1880 Pratt Drive
BLACKSBURG, VA 24060 540/231-5281
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| NSF Program(s): |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
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| Field Application(s): |
0118000 Pollution Control
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
EGCH, 9197, 1605
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| Program Element Code(s): |
1179
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ABSTRACT
0086876 Davis The objective of this research is to make new biopolymers to stabilize aqueous suspensions of inorganic colloidal particles. Such suspensions are used in processes for making microelectronics, structural ceramics, filled adhesives, coatings, biomedical devices and personal care products. A problem common to all of these applications lies in controlling the state of aggregation of the suspensions. Particle aggregation leads to higher viscosities and sedimentation of the solid particles, effects that are very undesirable for suspension processing and application. Additionally, many particle processes still employ organic solvents, but environmental concerns will soon require that the fluid phase for suspension processing be converted from organic solvents to water. Prior research indicates that copolymers of amino acids have the potential to form stabilizing molecules for metal oxide nanoparticles. The structures to be developed are diblock and triblock copolymers of amino acids that have an adsorbing anchor block and a non-adsorbing tail block. Two approaches to biosynthesis of these structures will be studied: 1) to engineer E. Coli to produce monodisperse diblock and triblock copolymers that stabilize alumina nanoparticles and 2) to screen combinatorial libraries of polypeptides for anchor block candidates for aluminum oxide particles. This grant is made pursuant to Solicitation NSF 00-49, New Technologies for the Environment. ***
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