Mentoy, Jan Jericho C.

CHE-3104
LEARNINGS FROM THE WEBINAR
“There is no such thing as away. When we throw away something, it must go
somewhere – Annie Leonard.” The core idea and focus of the speakers who are
excellent researchers in their field is sustainability through renewal and reutilization of
some materials that are considered waste and turned into something more meaningful.
Different studies were presented that showcase different innovative recycled materials
that can match and compete with the global trend and be utilized in solving different
economic, environmental, and resource management problems, which helps the
country to achieve its sustainable goals.
Different speakers give way to various innovations and their respective
development. First, Mr Quanzhi Tian proposed the production of geopolymer from coal
processing waste. Geopolymers are amorphous aluminosilicates materials that are
consist of cross-linked units of aluminate and silicate tetrahedral, which are formed in
ambient temperature. Production of material involve stirring of a precursor powder
(metakaolin) and an activation solution, together with cesium immobilization to cure and
mold the geopolymer. Another common method is through alkali fusion, which can
transform aluminosilicate-based materials into soluble states and advance the
dissolution of silicon and aluminum species to enhance the reactivity of metakaolin.
Due to its compressive strength, wide surface area, and low porosity, geopolymers
could in innovating construction technologies, more specifically on improving the
mechanical strength and heat resistance and reduce the leeching rate of construction
materials. The second speaker, Dr Laemthong Chuemchom, introduced how biomasses
can be reutilized in different materials to resolve different environmental problems and
reinvented to form new technologies. For example, sugar bagasse, which is a prominent
biowaste in Thailand, can be converted into innovative materials such as: magnetic
absorbents that cleans heavy metals in water, activated carbon monoliths that can be
used in cleaning up textile industry waste specifically in dye absorption, and as catalyst
support through simple and green method in the catalyctic degradation process that can
remove organic pollutants from through oxidation using radicals. In addition, there are
some technologies that are develop from an invasive plant in an aquatic ecosystem
called water hyacinth, wherein it was carbonized to form a supercapacitor that has a
good electro-conductive properties. Third, Mr Chitiphon, introduce photocatalytic
materials derived from clay and from different metal composites such as iron(Fe)-doped
montmorillonite, FeIII-doped montmorillonite/ TiO2, and etc. which can be utilized in
wastewater remediation, hydrogen evolution and biomass converson. Finally, Mr
Taweechi discuss plant based nanocellusosed composite materials and their application
in the reduction of plastic wastes due to their biodegradable property and efficient and
less carbon foot print production.
Different innovative technologies were introduced in the webinar that could help
different students to implement creativity and sustainability in their future projects. As a
future and aspiring chemical engineer, I am very inspired to build and invent new
technologies that could help build my community.