Mehta Lab
@ West Virginia University
ACTIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS
Theme: Textile Material Sustainability
Recycling post-consumer cotton waste into fiber-reinforced polymer composites.
As noted in the latest survey conducted by the US EPA, the majority of textile solid waste (67%) ends up in landfills and only 14% is currently being recycled. We are developing circular solutions for the textile industry by recycling cotton waste into 3D-printed consumer products. These consumer products will help reduce the use of single-use plastics and will create an innovative job market for textile and mattress recyclers. This interdisciplinary exploratory study is funded by the Mattress Recycling Council. Curious to know more about our project? Follow the link: https://mattressrecyclingcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/WVU-Final-Cotton-Report.pdf
Developing liquid-repellent personal protective equipment for pesticide applicators and farmworkers.
We developed breathable liquid-repellent PPE for pesticide applicators in India using green chemistry. Due to the tropical climate of India, many farmers/farmworkers spray pesticides in agricultural fields on bare feet with minimum clothing on their bodies let alone the use of recommended PPE. In this multistage research project, we took a human-centered design (HCD) approach and developed breathable liquid-repellent PPE for the head-to-toe protection of the wearer (developed in phase 1) that is free of PFOA and PFAS toxins, unlike conventional hydrophobic coatings in the field. We also conducted a user experience field study using the PPE prototypes developed with coated fabrics.
A novel approach to use plant-based essential oils in developing therapeutic textiles and assessment of their performance efficacy using neurophysiology.
We are developing therapeutic textiles using plant-based essential oils. Essential oils are highly volatile compounds and to improve their longevity they must be encapsulated in a protective shell. Upon the application of thermal, mechanical, or chemical stimuli, the essential oil can be released in a slow and controlled manner. In a lab-based clinical trial, we investigated the stress-relief efficacy of therapeutic textiles encapsulated with lavender and cedarwood essential oils compared to control/placebo textile materials. Our work is funded and published by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.14504/ajr.3.5.4
Synthesis and characterization of bio-cellulose as a sustainable alternative leather material.
We are developing sustainable nano-cellulose fibers using Acetobacter species and yeast. Nanocellulose fibers can be applied in various industrial sectors including the textiles, food industry, pharmaceutical, and electronics due to their exceptional properties, e.g., enhanced mechanical strength, high water holding capacity, and biodegradability. Unlike plant-based cellulosic fibers, their production can be controlled depending on the demand. These materials also have self-healing properties, thereby potential applications in wound healing dressing materials.
Theme: Consumer Neuroscience/Big data analytics
Multi-sensory evaluation of textile haptics using consumer neuroscience approach.
The tactile feedback of the textile surface enables us to discern its textural properties such as rough/smooth, hard/soft, uniform/irregular, etc. The tactile feedback is often perceived by the biggest organ of our body, the skin. But is it the only sense we use to perceive tactile feedback? In this study, we take the interdisciplinary approach and study textile haptics in a psychophysiological experiment using physiological biosensors and self-reported touch perception of textile materials to understand how human beings perceive different textures using their multiple senses and how that information is relayed to the brain in terms of textures. Follow the link to our recent publication in PLOS ONE journal to learn more about the findings of our study!
Consumers' perception, attitudes, and purchase intention of Industrial Hemp-based consumer products- A Neuroscience approach.
In this multiphase project, we surveyed 200 consumers and collected (conscious) data about 3 parameters: their perception of sustainability, attitudes, and purchase intentions for IH-based products in phase 1. We are currently collecting their sub-conscious data in our Consumer Neuroscience Lab focusing on all the three parameters above.
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