Polymer Chemistry in the 21st Century

Prerequisite: CHEM 2052

This course summarizes the efforts of ecologists, polymer chemists, toxicologists, marine scientists, and engineers to shift the paradigm of polymer sciences towards sustainability and minimizing environmental impact. Topics covered include: fundamentals of polymer chemistry, green chemistry for polymer design and synthesis, methodology for evaluating polymer properties and determining the extent of the impact of plastic pollution, synthetic polymer degradation products (micro/nano-plastics and polymer additives), ecological and toxicological impacts of synthetic polymers and degradation products, recycling techniques (mechanical, chemical, and biological), and challenges in recycling synthetic polymers.

Credit: 3