Microalgae and agricultural waste turned into environmentally friendly and carbon-reducing plastic. National Sun Yat-sen Universitywins International Invention
2025-02-17
2025-02-17
Agricultural waste can also be converted into environmentally friendly and carbon-reducing plastic! Zhang Gengling, a professor at the Institute of Environmental Engineering at National Sun Yat-sen University, led a team to develop environmentally friendly and carbon-reducing bioplastics using marine microalgae and agricultural waste. After optimizing the process, the microalgae protein can be extracted within 8 minutes, and waste banana pseudostems were used to increase the tensile strength and elongation of the bioplastic film, showing excellent application performance. This innovative technology can promote a sustainable circular economy and create new added value for agriculture. The result won the gold medal in the 15th IIIC International Innovation and Invention Competition.
Zhang Gengling also won the 20th International Outstanding Inventor Award for his long-term commitment to the research and development of environmentally friendly plastic reduction, agricultural waste reuse and carbon dioxide conversion.
The 15th IIIC International Innovation and Invention Competition focuses on environmental protection and covers four major themes: energy efficiency, carbon reduction, biotechnology and smart life. Participating teams came from 12 different countries (Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, Russia, Morocco, Peru, Ecuador and Spain), and more than 447 outstanding inventions participated. The 20th Annual Golden Globe Award for Outstanding International Inventors must have won awards at famous international invention exhibitions or domestic and foreign invention competitions and science competitions, and must be reviewed and approved by the selection committee, and the final five winners will be selected.
The 15th IIIC International Innovation and Invention Competition focuses on environmental protection and covers four major themes: energy efficiency, carbon reduction, biotechnology and smart life. Participating teams came from 12 different countries (Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, Russia, Morocco, Peru, Ecuador and Spain), and more than 447 outstanding inventions participated. The 20th Annual Golden Globe Award for Outstanding International Inventors must have won awards at famous international invention exhibitions or domestic and foreign invention competitions and science competitions, and must be reviewed and approved by the selection committee, and the final five winners will be selected.
Zhang Gengling said that the earth is facing serious plastic pollution hazards. About 38 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year. It is urgent to find solutions to sustainable development. The environmentally friendly and carbon-reducing bioplastics developed by the research team have many advantages over traditional plastics. "They have a lower carbon footprint, are made from renewable resources, and can decompose themselves."
Zhang Gengling pointed out that making bioplastics from banana pseudostems can reduce agricultural waste and activate the rural economy; microalgae in the ocean have a wide range of applications, covering different fields such as the production of pharmaceuticals, bioplastics, cosmetics, food and animal feed, and play a key role in both ecological and industrial applications.
Combining the innovation of environmentally friendly and carbon-reducing bioplastic materials produced by the two, it has great potential in replacing traditional plastics and sustainable development in the future.
Zhang Gengling further explained that this research extracts microalgae protein as the raw material base to make biodegradable, environmentally friendly and carbon-reducing plastic. The team proposed an efficient and scalable method for microalgae protein extraction using an ultrasonic homogenizer in a buffer solution of potassium hydroxide, potassium chloride and glycerol. After optimization through Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the optimal conditions were 14 ml of solution, 8 minutes of processing time and a pH of 10.5. The extraction efficiency reached 73.38% and the protein purity was 86.45%.
Zhang Gengling further explained that this research extracts microalgae protein as the raw material base to make biodegradable, environmentally friendly and carbon-reducing plastic. The team proposed an efficient and scalable method for microalgae protein extraction using an ultrasonic homogenizer in a buffer solution of potassium hydroxide, potassium chloride and glycerol. After optimization through Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the optimal conditions were 14 ml of solution, 8 minutes of processing time and a pH of 10.5. The extraction efficiency reached 73.38% and the protein purity was 86.45%.
In order to enhance the mechanical properties, the research team also used various fillers to test the formula of bioplastic films and found that the film using agricultural waste banana pseudostem powder as filler showed a tensile strength of 7.08 MPa and an elongation of 15.60%, showing the potential of agricultural waste to add value.
Because microalgae are easy to cultivate and grow quickly, agricultural waste is environmentally friendly and low-cost, and the bioplastic produced has high feasibility as a substitute for traditional plastics, it has attracted widespread attention and attention in the industry.
[Reporter Wang Wenling/Kaohsiung Report]
News source: https://reurl.cc/vpR00a
[Reporter Wang Wenling/Kaohsiung Report]
News source: https://reurl.cc/vpR00a