How to acquire environmental friendly novel materials using renewable resources and practical application of these materials in various fields are the main tasks of the R&D Center of Eco-material and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics. In order to achieve these goals, avoid secondary pollution and realize the high added value application of natural sources in the northwest of China, a series of novel materials were prepared through “green” ways by using natural sources such as starch, attapulgite and chitosan, etc. The research idea “From Nature, Applied to Nature and Harmonized with Nature” is rigidly followed in our research work. The specific research interests are as follows.

Organic/inorganic superabsorbent composites

The low salt-resistance and high price of commercialized superabsorbent materials have formed the main bottleneck for them to be applied in water saving agriculture. A series of novel organic/inorganic superabsorbent composite material based on clay minerals, starch, sodium humate, etc., with low production cost, salt-resistant property and high water absorbency was successfully prepared. A production plant of 6000t/a of an attapulgite-based superabsorbent composite material has been set up in Shengli Oilfield. The production cost has been reduced for about 30% comparing with the commercialized superabsorbent material. Another production plant of 3000t/a of the superabsorbent composite material based on sodium humate is setting up in Jiangsu province. These superabsorbent composite materials have been widely applied and demonstrated in Gansu, inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, and evidently water saving and production increasing are observed.

Clay-based organic/inorganic adsorbents

Heavy metal ions, dyes, N and P are the main pollutants in water. A series of organic/inorganic adsorbents based on polysaccharides and clay minerals is prepared aiming at water pollution treatments. By the combination of polysaccharides and clay minerals through unique procedures, tree-dimensional networks could be formed, which could capture large amount of the pollutants like fishing net. These adsorbents are not soluble in water and easy to be separated. Practical applications of these materials have been done for the treatment of water from Taihu Lake and the content of N is evidently decreased.

Functional composite materials for controlling decertified areas

A series of functional composite materials composed of organic fertilizer, water-saving material and plant growth regulators, etc., has been prepared in our center. These functional composite materials have been widely applied and demonstrated in Minqin (Gansu province), Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center, Lanzhou and Lhasa, etc. Production increasing and above 90% survival rate of trees are always observed in these areas. Some seed pelleting materials for the aerial seeding were also prepared.

Storaging and processing of potato

Much effort has been paid to investigate the techniques and equipments for the utilization of waste water and industrial residuals generated during the preparation of potato starch. In addition, potato storaging and fresh-keeping, modification of potato starch and preparation of green compound flocculant are also concerned. Moreover, Researches about the clarification treatment of drink water in rural village in china and the preparation of functional materials for the storaging and processing of agricultural products are also done in the center. All these research works are done in order to improve technology of the potato industry in China.

Controlled drug delivery

The release of many anti-infective, antihypertensive and antitumor drugs in their traditional formulations is uncontrollable and the drugs disperse randomly in organs of the body. Consequently, a series of problems including drastic fluctuation of drug level in the blood, repeat administration in a short-period and side effect for the gastrointestinal tract are caused. Controlled drug delivery technique is an efficient way to overcome these problems. In our center, a few of excellent drug delivery matrices composed of natural renewal polysaccharides and functional inorganic materials have been successfully obtained. The release behaviors of diclofenac sodium, ofloxacin hydrochloride and tegafur could be improved owing to the synergistic effect of the natural polymers and the inorganic materials, and could also be tailored by varying composition of the matrices.