17IBN01
Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, A*STAR
Green Chemistry and Energy
IBN-MP
Tuning Gelling Speeds of Powder Gelator Via Solvent Wetting and Fiber Morphology Modulation
Dr Shen Jie c/o Youth Research Program (YRP)
6824 7258
jshen@ibn.a-star.edu.sg cc. yrp@ibn.a-star.edu.sg
Dr Huaqiang Zeng
6824 7115
hqzeng@ibn.a-star.edu.sg
Oceanic oil spills could cause devastating and lasting damages to both environment and ecosystem. The recently emerged phase-selective organogelators (PSOGs) not only exhibit ability to phase-selectively congeal oil from oily water but also allow for easy separation of gelled oil from water body. However, all the hitherto reported PSOGs either necessitate carrier solvents for their dissolution before application, or suffer from an extremely slow action in gelling oil in the powder form. Our recent investigations have established a novel wetting strategy via incorporation of a minute amount of polar solvent into powder gelator as a highly efficient means of enhancing gelling speeds of wetted powder gelator in the powder form by up to two orders of magnitudes. This wetting strategy however (1) employs only a single type of polar solvent and (2) has not considered possibly significant effects from changes in fiber morphology of wetted powder gelator. We hypothesized that use of mixed organic solvents for gelator wetting might lead to additional enhancements in gelling speeds of the powder gelator. We also hypothesized that changes in fiber morphology among gelators wetted using various types of polar solvents might exert substantial impacts on the gelling speed. In this project, we therefore will look into effects and correlations on gelling speed that gelator wetting using mixed solvents at various ratios might have and that dried fibers obtained from removing encapsulated solvent molecules in the wetted gelator.
The pupil will learn how to synthesize organic molecules using multiple-step organic synthesis technique, follow reaction progress using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and purify organic molecules using Flash Column Chromatography. Also, they will learn how to use NMR and Mass Spectrometry to characterize the organic products. Upon successful synthesis of the gelator molecule, TEM or SEM will be used to visualize the morphologies of fibrillar gelator molecules, and the corresponding gelling speeds will be determined against diesel and crude oils.
Amide bond synthesis by acylation and BOP-mediated coupling reaction.
Yes
Hazardous substances or devices
Chemistry
Foundational Chemistry knowledge. Reading literature will be released once the group has been accepted into YRP post the selection process. To be considered for this project, students must complete the YRP Application Form (which can be downloaded from http://www.ibn.a-star.edu.sg/YRP/) and email it together with scanned copies of their PSLE, and Sec 1, Sec 2, to current level mid-year and year-end grades (pdf format) to yrp@ibn.a-star.edu.sg. IBN will review the applications and if found suitable, candidates will be shortlisted for 2 rounds of interviews before a decision will be made if the group has been accepted into YRP.
To be discussed and mutually agreed upon after discussing with mentor. The group is expected to conduct at least 1 to 2 days of half- day (3-4 hours) lab work per week during school term and return to IBN full-time (Monday to Friday) according to IBN's office hours during the 4-week June school holiday.
IBN looks for students who demonstrate a keen interest and passion in scientific research, have the willingness to learn and engage scientific researchers productively, and the ability to be good team players who are independent, matured, proactive, and responsible mentees. Ability to demonstrate IBN’s corporate values is preferred.
Yes