This course delves into the pivotal role of polymers in sustainability and circular economy, examining their history, properties, and applications. Through an interdisciplinary approach, it addresses challenges and innovative solutions in polymer science for a sustainable future. 1. History of polymers. Concepts. Natural polymers. Synthetic polymers. Polymer synthesis. Polymer modification. 2. Sustainability-circularity. Concepts. Ecoefficiency in polymers. Ecotoxicity. Life Cycle Assessment. 3. Problematic polymer applications: Packaging, textiles, additives, agriculture. 4. Plastic waste: Marine litter, microplastics. 5. Recycling plastics. 6. Degradation, Biodegradation, compostable plastics. 7. Biobased polymer materials: Sources, processes, applications, challenges. 8. Final remarks: Greenwashing.

-

The course delves into the pivotal role of polymers in sustainability and circular economy, examining their history, properties, and applications. Through an interdisciplinary approach, it addresses challenges and innovative solutions in polymer science for a sustainable future. Guest lecturer: Paula Bosch (Director of Research at CSIC Madrid): She belongs to the Institute of Science and Technology of Polymers in CSIC, Spain, where she is Senior Researcher and head of the group “Synthesis”. In the last 15 years her research has been focused in photopolymerization processes, functionalization of polymers, synthesis of fluorescent probes and antimicrobial polymers. In that period of time she has published more than 50 SCI papers, supervised 4 PhD Thesis and more than 20 BSc and MSc thesis. She has had several scientific responsibilities: Director of the Institute of Science and Technology of Polymers (CSIC), President of the Center for Organic Chemistry (CENQUIOR-CSIC), and currently she is Deputy President of the Association for the Development of Science and Technology (FOCITEC-Spain). From the beginning of COVID-19 pandemics she focused her research in the development of functional polymeric surfaces with virucidal properties, and she developed a general strategy to impart highly efficient anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity to textiles, coatings and other polymeric materials. She has been member of the core group of CSIC for the management of the research during COVID pandemics, being the coordinator of the line “EPIs: new materials for face masks and virucidal treatments of surfaces” in CSIC. She is lecturer in different University Master courses (Universities Complutense, Carlos III, Juan Carlos I, U. of Coruña, U. Internacional Menéndez Pelayo) and, since 2012 she is the Director of the course “Plastics: history, development, applications and environment” for the formation of teachers of secondary schools in Madrid.

In presenza

Presentazione orale

P.D.2-2 - Aprile

April - June