In a joint effort, the Technological Development Unit (UDT) of the Universidad de Concepción and the Interdisciplinary Group of Marine Biotechnology (Gibmar) of the UdeC Biotechnology Center have taken a significant step towards agricultural and forestry sustainability with the development of algae-based biodegradable plastics. This innovative research allowed the creation of containers and bags that, in addition to degrading in a period of between 90 and 130 days, contribute nutrients to the soil, promoting a more efficient and responsible use of natural resources.
Plastic bags, common in sectors such as forestry, nurseries and fruit production, present a significant environmental problem due to their slow degradation process, which can take about 150 years. In a context where concern for the environment is growing, the accumulation of these materials creates an urgent challenge for the sustainability of agricultural and forestry practices.
To solve this problem, a group of researchers from the Universidad de Concepción developed a polymer based on algae that maintains the same properties of resistance and applicability as traditional bags, but with a degradation time between 90 and 130 days, depending on soil moisture conditions.
The development was carried out under the auspices of the Interdisciplinary Group of Marine Biotechnology (Gibmar) of the Biotechnology Center and the UDT Technological Development Unit, and was directed alternately by the academic of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Dr. Cristian Agurto Muñoz, and the Director of the UDT R&D Department, Álvaro Maldonado Mendoza.
“It was a challenge that we could plasticize algae and generate some biodegradable products, which was accomplished without problems. These plastics degrade under composting conditions between 90 and 130 days. Under normal conditions of use, some plastic functions such as strength and elasticity are maintained over the long term. We still have some products from almost 10 years ago and they are still in good condition,” explained Dr. Agurto.
The project developed planters and plastic bags for the nursery and agroforestry industry that could be compostable, thus preventing them from contaminating the soil. In addition, during development it was discovered that these same algae-based plastics provide plants with their own nutrients, which further improved the experience of using them.
Three R&D projects were executed, which were carried out between 2010 and 2016, three patents were obtained: one linked to the production of the bags and planters, another for the cultivation of macroalgae to obtain raw material and another for the development of foamed protective meshes for export fruits.
“We generate planters, containers and bags for different types of trees, for the forestry industry and the fruit industry of nurserymen. On the other hand, we generate anti-fungal biodegradable plastics to protect fruit for export, and we also generate a cultivation technology to supply algae with the necessary characteristics to produce these plastics,” said Dr. Agurto.
Massification
With respect to the possibility of mass production of these products, the researcher from the UdeC Biotechnology Center explained that they have tried to license the technology, but have not yet been successful. However, he believes that as a result of the regulatory changes that have appeared in recent years regarding the use of plastics, this situation should be reversed at some point.
“The difficulties we have had for licensing has to do mainly with the lack of any regulatory or financial incentive to promote the use and generate a niche for the end consumer. These plastics are not suitable for all things, they were validated in some particular applications, but evidently there are multiple and potential new applications that can be evaluated based on the experiences made”, explained the academic.
Regarding the possibility of expanding the uses of this technology and creating other products for domestic use, he explained that this is not possible today because the technology is validated for the creation of the products already mentioned; however, he is not closed to the possibility of finding others if there is demand from the industry.
“For quite some time we have been working according to the needs of the industry. The ideal would be for an industry to come and ask us, for example, for a container to be used in the refrigerator that is also transparent. That is already a big challenge. The plastics we develop are not transparent, so the requirement would be a technological challenge that obviously requires important modifications in the formulation. And therefore that would generate not only new knowledge, but also a new intellectual property asset,” Dr. Agurto indicated.
Source: UdeC News