RBI Fellow receives 2019 Blue Sky Award

RBI Fellow and PSE Graduate Chinmay Satam has been awarded the 2019 Blue Sky Award on behalf of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA). 

ICFPA is a worldwide network of forest and paper industry associations promoting cooperation in areas of common interest to its members. The award recognizes work that aims to bring the growing multibillion-dollar packaging industry towards sustainability.

Satam will receive his award during the ICFPA meeting in Vancouver, Canada, May 5-8, as well as be given the opportunity to present his winning project to the group and an international roundtable of industry CEOs.

Satam's research in the ChBE program focuses on new materials or products (other than in the traditional forest products industries). His winning project was entitled "Multi-layer chitin nanofiber cellulose nanocrystal-based films for sustainable barrier applications." 

About the award, Satam said: "I am honored to have received this award. There are around 2.5 billion tonnes per year (worldwide) of potentially recoverable chitin, available as a low-cost resource. The current usage of forest resources represents 62 million tonnes of pure cellulose production in the US alone. Both materials can be used for the production of sustainable barrier materials and through pulp mill integration, could bring in a massive boost to the production of cellulose-based nanomaterials (and revenue) to existing pulp mills. "

He is advised by Professor Carson Meredith, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies and J. Carl Pirkle Sr. Faculty Fellow. Satam is also an active member of TAPPI's Georgia Tech chapter. GT TAPPI connects Georgia Tech scientists and engineers to the forest products, pulp, paper, packaging and related industries by delivering growth opportunities and professional network to the students and proven talent to the industry.