The 15th International Symposium on Bioplastics, Biocomposites and Biorefining (ISBBB 2018) took place from July 24 – 27, 2018, in Guelph, Ontario. ISBBB 2018 was hosted by the University of Guelph’s Bioproducts Discovery & Development Centre. This year's conference focused on topics related to "Circular Economy for Bioproducts Innovation", which set the stage for important discussions regarding the concept of a Circular Economy as one of the driving forces for the current wave of bioproduct innovations. Members of the international community focused on how the concept of a Circular Economy can be incorporated towards Bioplastics, Biocomposites and Biorefining.
There were over 300 registered delegates, representing approximately 25 countries around the world, such as the USA, China, France, India, Germany, Sweden, Malaysia, Norway, the Netherlands, Chile, and many more. Participation representation was from academia, industry, and the government sector.
The judges for this year's Poster Competition were Prof. Srikanth Pilla from Clemson University, USA; Prof. Nandika D'Souza from the University of North Texas, USA; and Dr. Jaya Shankar Tumuluru from Idaho National Laboratory, USA.
The poster competition was split into three separate categories: Undergraduate, Graduate (Masters, PhD), and Senior Researchers (Post-Doc, Professors, etc.). The following prizes were awarded to presenters in each category:
Undergraduate Category:
First Place: Ximing Li, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon dots using trans-aconitic acid and diethylenetriamine
Second Place: Xuning Zhang, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Fabrication of Graphite/Cellulose Composite Paper as Flexible Electrode
Third Place: Alexandra Ball, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
En route to biographite oxide production
Graduate Category:
First Place: Caihua Shi, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Encapsulation and Triggered Release of Aldehydes from Their Imidazolidine Precursors for Shelf-life Extension of Fruits
Second Place: Muhammad Safder, University of Alberta, SC, USA
Synthesis and Characterization of lipid based biopolymers and bionanocomposites from poultry industry by-product
Third Place: Ewomazino Ojogbo, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Hydrophobic Starch-Laurate Graft Polymers: Synthesis, and Structure – Property Correlations
Senior Researchers:
First Place: Sonil Nanda, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
Fuel gas production from pellets made of agricultural residues
Second Place: Zhihui Yi, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Fluorescent Carbon Dots
Third Place: Yaseen Elkasabi, USDA-ARS, USA
Sustainable chemicals and products from fast pyrolysis bio-oils