Renewable Engine at the 3rd International Symposium on Biomimetic Microreactors for Photoconversion Chemistry

Dr Vignesh Kumaravel (IT Sligo) delivered an invited talk entitled “Metal oxide nano-composites: Antimicrobial food packaging and medical polymers” at the 3^rd International Symposium on Biomimetic Microreactors for Photoconversion Chemistry.  There were approximately 100 researchers and faculties participating in this conference, organised by Yeungnam University, Republic of Korea, during January 9-10, 2020.  Dr Kumaravel’s talk outlined the significance of metal oxide (e.g. ZnO, TiO₂) incorporated antimicrobial polymers for the food packaging and medical appliances under light/dark conditions.  The key discoveries and antimicrobial mechanism of ZnO/TiO₂ incorporated low density polyethylene (LDPE) were highlighted in addition to discussing the proper understanding of metal oxide distribution and how the reactive species release mechanism in the polymer matrix would be favourable to design economically viable antimicrobial polymers (e.g.PLA, PE, etc.) to prevent the bacterial colonisation and infectious diseases.