DeMichael Winfield |
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DeMichael Winfield, Ph.D.
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Synthesis of Biobased Materials from Plant Oils
♦ Research Chemist with a PhD in Polymer Chemistry
o Oleochemistry, biolubricants, thermoplastic polymers, green organic synthesis
♦ Modification of vegetable oils for industrial applications
♦ Development of green synthetic methodology for functionalizing agricultural feedstocks
♦ Synthesis of novel polymers derived from agricultural feedstocks
o Seed oils, terpenes, phenolic lipids, waxes
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Left-to-Right: Pennycress, Lesquerella, Castor beans |
Research on Biolubricants
♦ Evaluated new seed oils and their estolides for use as lubricants
o Pennycress, castor, lesquerella
♦ Evaluated the estolides of different soybean oil varieties as lubricants
♦ Tested physical and lubrication properties:
o Pour and Cloud Points
o Viscosity and Viscosity Index
o Lubricity
o Oxidative Stability
Research on Synthesis
♦ Developed amphiphilic ionic liquid catalysts for applications in oleochemical functionalization
♦ Hydroxyalkoxylation of epoxidized vegetable oil derivatives
♦ Recycling of ionic liquid catalyst
Graph showing the cold-flow properties of estolides
Using ionic liquid catalyst for epoxy ring-opening
Research on Polymers
♦ Utilization of biobased platform chemicals with unique structures to make novel polymers
♦ Synthesis of plant derived polymer additives
♦ Synthesis of linear and branched estolides
examples of studied estolides (linear and branched)
BIO:
Dr. DeMichael Winfield is a Research Chemist with expertise in polymer and organic chemistry. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia in 2021. His doctoral work focused on the synthesis and characterization of thermoplastics from plant biomass. In 2022 Dr. Winfield worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Bio-oils research unit at NCAUR, where he developed sustainable synthetic methods for functionalizing oleochemicals for fuel and lubricant applications.
Dr. Winfield joined the Bio-oils research group as a Research Chemist in 2023. His primary research focus is on the chemical modification of plant oils for industrial applications. Current projects include utilizing new crops as biobased feedstocks for applications as lubricants, biodiesel, polymers, and polymer additives. Another area of research is developing green, metal-free synthetic methods that are competitive with traditional industrial methods.