Welcome to our 2026-2027 program year. Our plan for this program year is for a mix of social events, in person Initiation and virtual meetings.
Iota Sigma Pi: Aurum Iodide Chapter
Announcement for September 2026 Meeting – Virtual
Friday, September 18, 2026
Ali Biery, Ph.D.
Argonne National Laborotories
" Solving the plastic problem: New approaches for polymer recycling and sustainable polymer materials "
Meeting Agenda
• 7:00 PM (CST) - Speaker
• 8:00 PM Social hour (via breakout rooms)
Abstract: Plastics are, in many ways, a necessary part of modern life. As our use of plastics increases, so does the problem of plastic waste. One solution is recycling, but conventional polymer recycling techniques do not always meet material or process needs. In this talk, I will give an overview of the chemistry and processing of consumer polymers, focusing specifically on why many plastics are difficult to recycle. I will introduce recycling techniques and discuss new developments in chemical recycling processes and environmentally friendly polymers including research in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) upcycling and polymers made from food waste. The goal is to better understand the complexities and new approaches for better plastics recycling and more recyclable plastics.
Bio: Ali is a polymer chemist and postdoctoral appointee in the Applied Materials Division at Argonne National Lab. She received her PhD in Applied Chemistry from the Colorado School of Mines where her dissertation research focused on the synthesis and characterization of water insoluble cationic polymers for renewable energy and CO2 capture. After completing her PhD, Ali became a postdoc at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In Tennessee, her work centered various polymer science topics including 3D printing, adhesives testing, and high-performance composite development. She also researched the chemical recycling and upcycling of post-consumer PET bottles. Currently at Argonne, Ali is synthesizing and testing novel polymer membranes for a variety of advanced separation applications.
Please RSVP by Wednesday, September 16, 2026 via Evite or to viviansullivan2@yahoo.com. The meeting link will be sent to you on Wednesday, Sept 16, 2026.
Please take a moment to pay your yearly dues. You may do so by visiting the National website https://www.iotasigmapi.org/
Interested in becoming a member of Iota Sigma Pi? To find the application criteria and apply for membership, visit the National website at iotasigmapi.org and go to Membership (https://www.iotasigmapi.org/become-a-member).