The candy 'plastic box' can be degraded, the colorful express 'foam plastic' can be imported, the drug capsule has a low cost and safe and harmless substitute... Professor Yu Long, who specializes in the research of natural polymer materials, in the world The first successful development and industrialization of the whole starch biodegradable material, the industry has won the reputation of 'starchman' (starch man). 37 years ago, he graduated from South China University of Technology. 3 years ago, he from Australia to Guangdong Province innovation The team leader returned to his alma mater, continued to expand the application of biodegradable materials, and served as the dean of the 'China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute'. With the strong support of South China University of Technology, he continued to strengthen the R&D platform and actively expand the new space for international cooperation. .
Bypass: First successful development of 'starch plastic'
Yu Long studied in the Polymer Chemical Engineering Department of South China University of Technology in 1977. After graduating a few years later, he went to Australia to study and became the first overseas student to receive a national scholarship from the country. In less than three years, he obtained Monash University. After his Ph.D., he graduated from the field of natural polymer modification processing and made important breakthroughs in replacing plastics with starch. He was praised as 'starch man' by the industry.
He has been working on Yu Long's career. He has been working on the development of biodegradable packaging materials during his time at the Australian Academy of Sciences.
In the early days, Yu Long did a lot of research on the structure, rheological properties and thermal properties of starch, but he has not found an effective method to modify starch molecules to prevent brittleness. A researcher who cooperated with it unintentionally provided a Useful clues. Originally, the ketchup encountered similar problems during the production process: If the ketchup is not sticky enough, it will be separated from the water, and the ketchup will settle on the bottom of the cruet; if the starch in the ketchup is too thick, it will crystallize. It becomes a colloid, so that the ketchup is difficult to pour out of the bottle. In the food industry, this problem has been solved by special chemical methods. After Yu Long heard, immediately refer to the processing technology and modification method of tomato sauce to develop A new method for degrading starch properties in packaging materials. In 2006, he successfully developed and industrialized all-starch biodegradable plastic packaging materials for the first time in the world. With the technical support of this innovation, one produces biodegradable packaging materials. The company was born, the company's inner packaging for foods such as candy, biscuits and chocolate, which is now available in London.
Focus on R&D: New materials can 'eat' can 'play' and can also be used
After returning from the Australian Academy of Sciences to work at South China University of Technology, Yu Long has successively developed international starch-based biodegradable coffer (bubble) packaging materials, pharmaceutical capsules, environmentally-friendly water-retaining slow-release fertilizers and other international new products.
In Professor Yu’s lab, there are more than a dozen transparent bags with colorful small cylinders. These materials can be eaten and played, and can be used. In recent years, China’s express delivery industry has developed. Rapidly, in the process of shipping express delivery, it is inevitable to use a large amount of buffer (foam type) packaging materials. The cushioning packaging based on petroleum-based plastic foam has brought great burden to the environment. Yulong uses its original creation. 'All-star biodegradable plastic' production process, and self-developed processing equipment - reactive extrusion processing system, to produce all-starch, degradable environmentally-friendly cushioning packaging materials, while miniaturizing and intelligentizing traditional foaming equipment Design, greatly reducing transportation and storage costs.
Yu Long explained that 98% of the ordinary foam is air, the space occupied during transportation is large, and the cost is high. The vast majority of the large trucks are transported during the transportation process. The research team redesigned the original giant foam equipment. The selling price only needs a small machine of more than 60,000 yuan to provide the pellet raw material before foaming, so that the manufacturer can foam at any time and place according to the demand, and can use the Internet technology to establish a certain range of delivery radius. He further explains : 'Because this material is made entirely of starch, it can be used as animal feed. At the same time, it can also be made into children's toys, with a small cylinder to spell out various shapes, which is safe and stimulate children's creativity. . '
The environmentally-friendly water-retaining slow-release fertilizer package is another product that Yulong's R&D team is working on. The team is about to develop a new 'starch colloid' shell, which has water retention on the one hand and can absorb hundreds of times its own weight. , to ensure the maximum benefit of the application of chemical fertilizers. On the other hand, the 'shell' itself is a completely biodegradable material, eliminating the secondary pollution of the soil.
International cooperation: Serving as the president of Sino-Singapore International Joint Research Institute
At the end of 2015, the 'China-Singapore International Joint Research Institute' settled in 'Zhongxin Guangzhou Knowledge City', becoming an important platform for China and Singapore in the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, talent exchange, etc. South China University of Technology and Singapore Nanyang Technological University are research institutes. The main construction subject, Yu Long was appointed as the dean of the institute.
Yu Long introduced that the institute is positioned as an industrialization platform and advocates cooperation with industry. The effect of industrialization is an important criterion for project evaluation. At present, most of the projects of the institute have been recognized by the industry and supported by direct financial support from partners. .
Focusing on the key industries in Guangzhou, the first phase of the research includes six research and development platforms, including pollution control and environmental restoration, new energy, biomedical materials, food nutrition and safety, artificial intelligence, green buildings and smart cities. There are 23 industrialization projects, 16 of which are Sino-Singapore science and technology cooperation projects.
Yu Long said that an important work of the Sino-Singapore International Research Institute is to establish an applied technology model for foreign universities and research institutes. 'The institute is looking for a new model to enable high-tech universities and research institutes to obtain high-tech through this platform. Economic benefits, while improving the scientific and technological level of China's high-tech enterprises. The first is to create an incubation platform, a common incubation project; the second is to generate economic benefits through the industrialization of results, and establish a mutually beneficial model. 'Yu Long said.