| Mission |
The department covers a wide spectrum of research in the physical chemistry of colloids and interfaces. The leading principle is that topics should be challenging from a disciplinary, physico-chemical point of view, but also relevant for foodscience, biology and agriculture. The projects are grouped into five major programmes, one strategic and aimed at developing the discipline, and four interdisciplinary ones directed to application areas. We give a selection of the mainthemes. For the full list of projects and detailed information see www.fenk.wau.nl/research.html. In the strategic programme Colloids and Interfaces we adress fundamental issues like measurement of surface forces by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM),thermo dynamics of curved interfaces (relevant for micro emulsions, membranes andvesicles), and wetting. In the programme Biophysical Chemistry we study theoretically and experimentally protein (un)folding, protein aggregation, and protein-polysaccharide interactions and phase behaviour. In Interfaces in Food Science and Biotechnology the issues are conformational changes of proteins upon adsorption at solid or liquid interfaces, and their consequences for immuno-assays and emulsion stability. In Polymers at Interfaces an important activity is polymer brushes used for controlling adsorption barriers, wetting, and biofouling. Other topics are interfaces in polymer blends and effects of polymers on detergency, coatings formulations,and coacervate micelles. In the programme Environmental Physical Chemistry we investigate humic acids and mineral surfaces, polymer/surfactant interactions, electrochemical deposition of nanoparticles, and colloidal aspects in sewage, sludges, and in hydrogen sulphide removal from natural gas. Up-to-date instrumentation is available. |
