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Young Teck Kim

Associate Professor
ytk
Brooks Center (MC 0503)
1650 Research Center Dr.
Black burg., VA 24061
ytkim@vt.edu
540-231-1156

Dr. Kim is a 10+ year expert of the bioplastic and biopolymer industry with experience in bioplastics, smart packaging, biosensor, and the nano-composite structure of packaging. Dr. Kim graduated from Clemson University majoring in Packaging Science and joined the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials in 2010 as a co-founder of the packaging B.S. degree program. He teaches classes in packaging materials (paper, corrugated and bioplastic polymers) and their application focusing on interaction with food and health care products. For the last several years, Dr. Kim has been serving the packaging student club as a primary advisor. Under the guidance of Dr. Kim, the student club is currently planning to host the 1st packaging career fair in spring 2020.

Current Research

Dr. Kim and his research team have focused on developing new packaging materials, composites, and its structure and functionality using a variety of natural or synthetic polymers, functional ingredients and active agents derived from biomaterials. Studying composite structures with nanomaterials such as carbon-based nanomaterials or other inorganic nanomaterials are actively going on. Recently, his research team has filed a few patents to isolate and utilize biopolymeric materials from agricultural wastes, called Zero waste production, for applications in the packaging systems. For example, nano-cellulose based forms, capable of replacing the existing traditional plastic form, and biopolymeric films enhanced with gas barrier properties have been successfully fabricated. Those projects have been funded by USDA-NIFA and by private packaging industry funds. Currently, Dr. Kim’s team is working on light-weight, high-performance hybrid packaging materials between plastic and natural fibers.

Future research and education:

  • Bioplastic coating, lamination or composite with paper-based packaging materials
  • High gas/water barrier biopolymeric packaging materials using inexpensive nano-carbon materials
  • Biodegradable form derived from natural polymers and fibers to replace a traditional plastic form
  • Biodegradable or edible film in food packaging application using natural biopolymers such as lignin, cellulose and other polysaccharides.
  • Light-weight fiber-reinforced pallet packaging materials

 

 Areas of Expertise

  • Food Packaging
  • Development of Sustainable (rigid/flexible) Packaging
  • Analytical Packaging Chemistry
  • Pharmaceutical/Nutraceutical Packaging
  • Smart Packaging (Quality indicator system)
  • Development of lab on a chip using Chemiluminescense
  • Sustainable Materials and Corrugated fiberboard packaging

Education

  • B.S. - Korea University, 1997
  • M.S. - Korea University, 1999
  • Ph.D. - Clemson University, 2005

 

Independet Course: Food & Health Care Packaging
4274 Spring 2012
Instructor: Young T. Kim
Number of Students: 2

Paper and paperboard packaging
3124 Spring 2012
Instructor: Young T. Kim
Number of Students: 11

Packaging Polymers and Productions

3284 Fall 2011
Instructor: Young T. Kim
Number of Students: 9

Paper and Paperboard
WOOD 3124 Spring 2011
Instructor: Young T. Kim
Number of Students: 7

 

  • Byun, Y., Baker, M., Roberts, D., Kimmel, R.M., Kim, Y. T. (2011). Thermal and barrier properties of beeswax/polylactic acid (PLA) composite film. In review.

  • Byun, Y., Roberts, D., Kim, Y. T. (2011). Thermal properties of polylactic acid (PLA) composite film containing PLA-β-cyclodextrin-inclusion complex. In review.
     
  • Byun, Y., Kim, Y. T., Park, H. J. (2010). The Chemistry and Biology of volatiles, edited by Andreas Herrmann . Chapter 12: Microencapsulation techniques for food flavors, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Alrium , Southern GAte, Chichester, West Sussex, England.
     
  • Min, S. C., Kim, Y. T., Han, J. H. (2009). Food Packaging and Shelf life/A Practical Guide, edited by Gordon L. Robertson. Chapter 16: Food packaging and the shelf life of Cereal and Snack Foods, ISBN: 971420078442, CRC Press-Taylor and Francis Group, LLC, Fl, USA.
     
  • Kim, Y. T., Kim, K. W., Han, J. H., Kimmel, R. M. (2008). Smart Packaging Technologies for fast moving consumer goods, edited by Joseph Kerry & Paul Butler. Chapter 6: Antimicrobial Active Packaging for Food, ISBN 9780470028025, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Alrium , Southern GAte, Chichester, West Sussex, England.

 

Strengthening Feedstocks, Production, and Products in Western North Carolina
Investigator(s): S. Renneckar and Y. Kim
Sponsor: Bent Creek Institute
Amount: $96,962
April 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014

  • Park, P., Rho, T. H., Seokoh, K., Kim, Y. T., Schlautman, M., and Carraway, E. (2011). Evidence of multiple pathways capable of emitting peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence using a charge coupled device spectrometer. Chemical Communications 2011, 47 (19), 5542 - 5544.

  • Park L., Bae, H., Kim, Y. T., and Lee, J. H. (2011). Rapid monitoring of alkaline phosphatase in raw milk using 1,1′-oxalyldiimidazole chemiluminescence detection. Analytical Methods , 3, 156-160.

  • Kim, K. W., Min, B. J., Kim, Y. T., Kimmel, R. M., Cooksey, K., and Park, S. I. (2011). Antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens of chitosan biopolymer films of different molecular weights. LWT-Food Science and Technology 44(2):565-569.

  • Agrawal, M., Kim, Y. T., Tonelli, A., and Whang, H. S. (2010). Cyclodextrin inclusion complex formation with butylated hydroxytoluene and its application in polyethylene film. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 118(2).

  • Byun, Y., Kim, Y. T., and Whiteside, S. (2010). Characterization of an antioxidant polylactic acid (PLA) film prepared with α-tocopherol, BHT and polyethylene glycol using film cast extruder. Journal of Food Engineering 100(2).

  • Choi, J., Kim, Y. T., and Lee, J. H. (2010). Rapid quantification of melamine in milk using competitive 1,1'-oxalyldiimidazole chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. Analyst 135(9).

  • Kim, Y. T., Ko, S. H., and Lee, J. H. (2009). Microfluidic Device Capable of Sensing ultrafast Chemiluminescence. Talanta 78(3).

  • Kim, Y. T., Hong, Y. S., Kimmel, R. M., Rho, J. H. and Lee, C. H. (2007). New Approach for Characterization of Gelatin Biopolymer Films Using Proton Behavior Determined by Low Field 1H NMR Spectrometry. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 55(26).

  • Yi, B., Kim, Y. T., Bae, H. J., Whiteside, W. S., and Park, H. J. (2006). Influence of Transglutaminase-Induced Cross-Linking on Properties of Fish Gelatin Films. Journal of Food Science 71(9).

  • Kim, K. M.,Lee, B. Y., Kim, Y. T., Choi, S. G., Lee, J., Cho, S. Y., and Choi, W. S. (2006). Development of antimicrobial edible film incorporated with green tea extract. Food Science and Biotechnology 15(3).

  • Ha, C., Lim, K., Kim, Y. T., Lim, S., Kim, C., and Chang, H. (2002). Analysis of alkali-soluble glucan produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild-type and mutants. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 58(3).

  • Kim, Y. T., Kim, E. H., Cheong, C., Williams, D. L., Kim, C. W., and Lim, S. T. (2000). Structural characterization of β-d-(1→3, 1→6)-linked glucans using NMR spectroscopy. Carbohydrate Research 328(3).
  • Kim, Y. T. and Kim, K. W. (2011). Understanding of ODI Chemiluminescence and its Applications in Food Science. Food Science and Industry June, pp. 38-44.

  • Byun, Y. and Kim, Y. T. (2009). The packaging science education program in USA. The Monthly Packaging World ,May, pp. 47-53.

  • Kim, Y. T. (2009). Sustainable Packaging Using Polylactic acid and other polyester. The Monthly Packaging World, March, pp. 49-57.

 

Contact Dr. Kim with questions about:

  • Primary packaging evaluation, testing, or development
  • Plastic materials evaluation, testing, or development.

For more info about Dr. Kim's research, Click Here!

Articles by or about Dr. Kim: