Ping Wang

Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering The University of Akron Akron, OH 44325-3906 (330)972-2096 (voice) (330)972-5856 (fax) wangp@uakron.edu  Ph.D.  (1995) Tufts University MS     (1988) East China Univ. Sci. & Tech. BS      (1985) East China Univ. Sci. & Tech.

Broad range of fundamental and applied issues in the interdisciplinary areas of biotechnology and polymer science.  Ongoing research particularly emphasizes biocatalysis, nanotechnology, biosynthesis of polymers, bioprocessing for the production specialty chemicals, and biodegradation of organic pollutants.

Current Supports:

•         National Science Foundation - Nanoscale Explorative Research (NER): Study of Bioactive Nanoparticles
•         US Department of Agriculture: Biosynthesis of Sugar-Containing Biodegradable Copolymer
•         National Science Foundation- Technology for Sustainable Environment: Novel Interfacial Biocatalysis for Chemical Processing
•         National Science Foundation: Multienzymatic Biocatalysis for the Treatment of Heavily Contaminated Wastewater
•         American Chemical Society - Petroleum Research Funds (Type G): Self-Assembling and Catalytic Behaviors of Enzyme-Polymer Conjugates

PATENT:

• US Patent 5,914,367.   “Polymer-Protein Composites and Methods for Their Preparation and Use,"  6/29/99.  With J. S. Dordick, M. V. Sergeeva, and S. J. Novick

• R. Peters and R. Sikorski, “Just One Word: Plastics,” Science, Vol. 277, p1849, 1997.
• Rebecca Rawls, “Industrial Applications Open Up For Polymer-linked Enzymes,” Chemical & Engineering News, April 28, p27-28, 1997.
• Robert F. Service, “Chemists Clean Ceramics and Coat Enzymes in Plastics – Plastic Enzymes,” Science, Vol. 272, p196-197, 1996.
•  “New Route to Poly(hydroquinone) Utilizes Enzyme Catalysis,” Science/Technology Concentrates, Chemical & Engineering News, January 8, p22, 1996.

• Ping Wang, S. Dai, S.D. Waezsada, A. Tsao, and B.H. Davison, “Enzyme Activation and Stabilization by Covalent Binding in Mesoporous Sol-gel Glass for Nonaqueous Biocatalysis,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 74(3): 249-255, 2001.  View Paper (PDF File)
• Ping Wang, C. A. Woodward, E. N. Kaufman, “Poly(ethylene glycol)-modified ligninase enhances pentachlorophenol biodegradation in water-solvent mixtures,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering,  64(3), 290-197, 1999. View Paper (PDF File)
• Ping Wang, N. S. Schneider, Nak-Ho Sung, “Sorption and diffusion of organic vapors in two fluoroelastomers,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 71(9):1525-1535, 1999. View Paper (PDF File)
• Ping Wang, J. S. Dordick, “Enzymatic synthesis of unique thymidine-containing polyphenols,” Macromolecules, 31(3), 941-943, 1998. View Paper (PDF File)
• Ping Wang, S. Amarasinghe, M. Arnold, J. Leddy, J. S. Dordick, “Enzmatically prepared poly(hydroquinone) as a mediator for amperometric glucose sensors,” Polymer, 39(1), 123-127, 1998. View Paper (PDF File)
• Ping Wang, M. S. Sergueeva, L. Lim, J. S. Dordick, “Biocatalytic plastics as active and stable materials for biotransformations,” Nature Biotechnology, 15, 789-793, 1997.             (This work was reported and discussed in C&EN, April 28, p27-28, 1997; Science, vol. 277, p1849, Sept. 19, 1997)
• J. O. Rich, Ping Wang, B. D. Martin, N. Patil, M. S. Sergueeva, J. S. Dordick, “Biocatalysis in organic solvents for the production of fine chemicals and specialty polymers,” Chimia, 50, 423-429, 1996.
• Ping Wang, J. Meldon, Nak-Ho Sung, “Heat-effects in sorption of organic vapors in rubbery polymers,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 59(6), 937-944, 1996.
• Ping Wang, B. D. Martin, D. G. Rethwisch and J. S. Dordick, “Multienzymic synthesis of poly(hydroquinone) for use as a redox polymer,”  Journal of the American Chemical Society, 117, 12885-6, 1995.  (This paper was reported as news in Science/Technology Concentrates, C&EN, January 8, p22, 1996)

4200:225 Equilibrium Thermodynamics
 

4200:622 Biochemical Engineering