Compiled Research
Source: file:///C:/Users/MAYEE/Documents/THESIS%201/SEAWEEDS/HOW%20TO%20%20make%20algae%20bioplastic.htm
Our recent news article about algae as a source for bioplastic has received a lot of attention. But there is something very important that it didn't tell you:
You can make your own bioplastic from algae. And we will give you step-by-step instructions on how to do it.
It's a fun little science project. You can do it in your kitchen, with stuff you buy at the grocery store. And you can see what "algae bioplastic" really looks and feels like...
First, a little background. You might not have known this, but when people talk about "seaweed" they are actually talking about a form of algae. That is what we are talking about in the context of bioplastics: red algae, also known as "red seaweed." The specific chemical that we are interested in is agar, which appears in red seaweed in abundance. When you hear Cereplast and other companies talk about developing bioplastic made from seaweed, they really mean that they will be using the chemical agar, which is extracted from the seaweed.
Fortunately (or unfortunately?) this project won't have you traipsing out to the ocean to collect seaweed. Agar is used as a food additive in confectionaries, desserts, beverages, icecream and health foods. It's also used as a non-food additive in toothpaste, cosmetics, and adhesives. It's not that difficult to get: if you can't find it at the grocery store, you can Google "buy agar" and you get plenty of results there.
Before we get to the actual recipe for making your very own "algae plastic", you should understand what role agar actually plays. Like all other plastics, bioplastics are composed of three basic parts: one or more polymers, one or more plasticizers, plus one or more additives. Roughly speaking: polymers give plastic its strength, plasticizers give it its bendable and mouldable qualities, and additives give it other properties (color, durability, etc).
Our recent news article about algae as a source for bioplastic has received a lot of attention. But there is something very important that it didn't tell you:
You can make your own bioplastic from algae. And we will give you step-by-step instructions on how to do it.
It's a fun little science project. You can do it in your kitchen, with stuff you buy at the grocery store. And you can see what "algae bioplastic" really looks and feels like...
First, a little background. You might not have known this, but when people talk about "seaweed" they are actually talking about a form of algae. That is what we are talking about in the context of bioplastics: red algae, also known as "red seaweed." The specific chemical that we are interested in is agar, which appears in red seaweed in abundance. When you hear Cereplast and other companies talk about developing bioplastic made from seaweed, they really mean that they will be using the chemical agar, which is extracted from the seaweed.
Fortunately (or unfortunately?) this project won't have you traipsing out to the ocean to collect seaweed. Agar is used as a food additive in confectionaries, desserts, beverages, icecream and health foods. It's also used as a non-food additive in toothpaste, cosmetics, and adhesives. It's not that difficult to get: if you can't find it at the grocery store, you can Google "buy agar" and you get plenty of results there.
Before we get to the actual recipe for making your very own "algae plastic", you should understand what role agar actually plays. Like all other plastics, bioplastics are composed of three basic parts: one or more polymers, one or more plasticizers, plus one or more additives. Roughly speaking: polymers give plastic its strength, plasticizers give it its bendable and mouldable qualities, and additives give it other properties (color, durability, etc).