Amar Mohanty – Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials Innovation

Professor, Department of Plant Agriculture and School of Engineering

Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) Distinguished Research Chair in Sustainable Biomaterials

Seeking Academic or Industry Partnerships in the Area of:

Development of bio-based materials and biocomposites for industrial applications

Keywords

Nanomaterials, bioplastics, biomaterials, biofuels, biocomposites, green technology

Education and Employment Background

Amar Mohanty received his PhD in Chemistry from Utkal University, India, in 1987. He was a professor at Michigan State University before joining the University of Guelph in 2008. He is currently a professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Agriculture and the School of Engineering, and the Ontario Premier’s Research Chair in Biomaterials and Transportation. He is also the director of the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, leading alongside engineering and biobased material science professor Manjusri Misra.

Research Themes

Prof. Mohanty’s research concentrates on the development of sustainable biomaterials, including composites, nanocomposites, biodegradable polymers and bioplastics. These renewable resource-based materials provide eco-friendly alternatives to non-renewable petroleum-based products found in automotive, biomedical, packaging and building materials industries. His research aims to make co-products from corn ethanol and soil biodiesel industries valuable by using them to make biomaterials.

His research focuses on the following major themes:

Developing value-added applications of co-products from biofuel industries, lignin (a major industrial byproduct), and biodiesel industries. This research could allow repurposing of under-utilized co-products as low-cost, recyclable, biodegradable and renewable biomaterials to substitute for petroleum-based products.
Advancement of whole green composites made from renewable-resource based polymer and biofiller. These materials are recyclable, renewable, biodegradable and could reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. They could be used in automotive interiors, in packaging, and for interior building applications.
Developing natural fiber composites/biocomposites as potential substitutes for existing synthetic fiber composites. They are recyclable, carbon neutral, cost-effective, and easily available. Many of these materials can be repurposed as biofillers that reinforce petroleum-based polymers.
Conducting biodegradability and compostability studies of biopolymers and green composites. This will ensure that these materials compost at a rate comparable to known compostable materials without diminishing the value or utility of the compost produced.

Full List of Publications

Highlights

2018 Synergy Award for Innovation, for “Partnership with Two or More Companies” from NSERC
University of Guelph inaugural Research Leadership Chair award (2017)
Lifetime Achievement Award from the BioEnvironmental Polymer Society (BEPS) in 2015
Lead editor of the books “Natural Fibers, Biopolymers and Biocomposites” published by Taylor & Francis CRC Press (2005) and “Packaging Nanotechnology” (2009).
Editorial Board Member on four international journals:
- International Journal of Plastics Technology
- International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing – Green Technology
- Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
- Journal of Polymers and Environment