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Faculty Spotlight

Well before September 11, 2001 brought the terms "biological and chemical terrorism" into almost every Ameri­can household, Bruce Tatarchuk was already involved in research to combat such possibilities.

"Our materials are at the heart of many government and industry initiatives to fight these threats," says the chemical engineering pro­fessor. "We have research programs underway that will produce effective technologies that could save lives in the event of a biological or chemical attack."

Exponentially improved biofiltra­tion materials are only one small product of Auburn's Center for Microfibrous Materials Manufactur­ing (CM3) which Tatarchuk directs.

"There are a lot of people who wear masks as part of their work, including local police authorities, emergency medical tech­nicians and firemen," says Tatarchuk. "In addition to help­ing protect those on the front lines against new and deadly airborne materials, CM3 research could result in convenient, affordable masks for government use to protect the general public in an affected area. Auburn researchers are helping to make filtration masks more effective, more convenient and more portable. 

"Our masks work effectively for longer periods of time, and require less effort to breathe through them," he continues.  "We are even working on masks that reduce exposure to radionuclides."

Now six years old, CM3 is a bench-scale manufacturing center that produces microfibrous materi­als to facilitate research develop­ment, education, technology trans­fer and economic development. Increasingly the center is a strategic commercial partner for industry, an economic asset to the community, and an educational and research focus for the university.

"The center directs the efforts related to a number of government contracts, including joint projects with other universities," Tatarchuk says.

The advances in filtration CM3 is developing go beyond what can be worn; they have tremendous benefits in everyday life.

"This technology can be applied to ventilating systems in buildings, where it can help protect American embassies, which are potential over­seas targets," says Tatarchuk. "It can improve indoor air quality in office buildings to combat 'sick building syndrome, and improve air quality on airlines and other forms of transportation."

But the research at CM3 goes far beyond air filtration.

"CM3 is also working to make batteries smaller and more powerful," says Ralph Zee, associate director of research for the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. "Old batteries are hazardous materials in a number of states. Our researchers are working to give them the ability to regenerate, which is great for the environment."

Tatarchuk, an Illinois native explains that the concentration is in catalysis, surface chemistry and, in general, making chemical reactions occur faster and more selectively. Researchers have already identified how to speed a number of key chemical reactions currently used in industry.

Tatarchuk's focus has resulted in five U.S patents and 31 counterparts in foreign countries. There are cur­rently more than a dozen CM3 customers working with the Center on joint programs.

"Our work is about helping peo­ple work with chemicals more safe­ly," he says. "There are so many things we take for granted that chemicals provide. Chemicals save our lives, but we have to be good stewards of the environment. That's a big part of chemical engineering."