Sustainable Nano

Ep 14. What Does Nanotechnology Have to Do With Renewable Car Tires?

Episode Summary

What if car tires could be made from renewable resources instead of petroleum? In this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Paul Dauenhauer, part of a research team from the Center for Sustainable Polymers who have developed a new chemical process to make isoprene (one of the key ingredients in car tires) from biomass such as grass or corn.

Episode Notes

What if car tires could be made from renewable resources instead of petroleum? In this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Paul Dauenhauer, part of a research team from the Center for Sustainable Polymers who have developed a new chemical process to make isoprene (one of the key ingredients in car tires) from biomass such as grass or corn.

(images from Paul Dauenhauer & Pixabay)

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Related links:

• Dr. Dauenhauer's lab page and Twitter
• Newsweek article - New Eco-Friendly, Renewable Tires Stretch the Boundaries of Rubber Production
• TV news videos - WCCO 4 and KARE 11
• WTIP Radio interview - U of MN researchers develop new technology to make car tires from trees & grasses
• University of Minnesota press release - Researchers invent process to produce renewable car tires from trees, grass
• ACS Catalysis article by Abdelrahman et al. - Renewable Isoprene by Sequential Hydrogenation of Itaconic Acid and Dehydra-Decyclization of 3-Methyl-Tetrahydrofuran
• Center for Sustainable Polymers
• Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology

Interviewee: Prof. Paul Dauenhauer

Producer/Host: Miriam Krause

Music: Ketsa