Yasser Alassmy

Title : A green/sustainable organocatalytic pathway for the preparation of esterified supercritical CO2-dried potato starch products

Abstract:

This study introduces a green chemistry approach to the production of modified starch-based products suitable for polymer packaging applications. Utilizing a sustainable catalytic process, potato starch underwent esterification with acetic anhydride at 120°C, facilitated by a novel organocatalytic pathway over varying durations (0.5, 3, and 7 hours) to achieve intermediate degrees of substitution (DS) ranging from 0.2 to 1.5. The modified starch was subjected to two distinct drying methods: conventional vacuum drying at 80°C for 24 hours and an environmentally benign supercritical CO₂ drying at 40°C and 100 bars for 2 hours. Comprehensive analysis through FTIR, ¹H-NMR, SEM, XRD, N₂ physisorption, TGA, DSC, and Karl Fischer confirmed the chemical structure and revealed that supercritical CO₂ drying uniquely preserved the porosity of the starch material. DS values, indicative of the level of modification, were corroborated by titration, HPLC, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, confirming the targeted modification range. The research underlines the viability of a mild and sustainable process to enhance starch-based materials for environmental-friendly packaging solutions.

Biography:

Dr. Yasser Alassmy, an Assistant Professor at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology since 2020, specializes in catalysis for CO₂ conversion and polymer chemistry. With a career spanning over 13 years at KACST, Dr. Yasser, deeply engaging in polymer science. Holding a Ph.D. in Sustainable Chemistry from the University of Groningen, a Master's in Polymer Chemistry from Sheffield University, and a Bachelor's in Chemistry from King Saud University, his work committed to innovate a sustainable solution in chemical research.