Abstract

Aerosols are particles that are suspended in a gaseous medium; and are ubiquitous and found in nature and engineered systems.  They occur in a range of sizes, shapes and compositions and are relevant to important phenomena such as climate change, human health, environmental and energy processes. Understanding the formation processes of these particles enables the synthesis of a range of nanomaterials with controlled characteristics and tailored functionalities. 

Following this brief introduction, we will discuss the use of sustainable precursors (byproducts from other processes) as feedstock in aerosol synthesis processes to produce functional nanomaterials.  Such approaches help advance circular economies which lead to increased sustainability.  One example is the conversion of carbon dioxide to value added materials.  In this presentation, we will focus on the use of the fundamentals of the synthesis processes to design methodologies to convert lignin (biomass processing by-product) to a variety of functional nanomaterials such as carbon dots.  Applications in battery technologies, drug delivery and consumer products will be described. 

Biography

Professor Biswas is the Dean, College of Engineering at the University of Miami.  He is a faculty member in the Dept of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, with an affiliated appointment in the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Prior to joining the University of Miami, he was the Lucy and Stanley Lopata Professor and Chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, and Asst. Vice Chancellor for International Programs at Washington University in St. Louis.  Pratim Biswas received his PhD from the California Institute of Technology; MS from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his BTech degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. 

Professor Biswas's research and educational interests include aerosol science and engineering; nanoparticle technology; air quality engineering; environmentally benign energy production; combustion; materials processing for environmental technologies, environmentally benign processing, environmental nanotechnology, public health, and the thermal sciences. Work is conducted through the world renowned Aerosol and Air Aerosol and Air Quality Research Laboratory Research Laboratory (AAQRL). He has graduated and advised 65 PhD students, and with them published more than 475 refereed journal articles.  For his exemplary contributions in the fundamentals of aerosol science and engineering, Pratim was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2019. He has won several other research and teaching awards.  He is a Fellow of the NAI, AAAS, AAAR, AEESP, IARA and other organizations.  He has two start-ups created in the area of aerosol science and technology, and nanoparticle technology. 

As the Dean of Engineering at the University of Miami, working with the faculty, staff, students, alumni and corporate partners; he has developed a strategic vision that will lead to the growth of an impactful College of Engineering that addresses and tackles global challenge problems.