Algae are often considered a nuisance to those attempting to enjoy waterways or those living near them. Researchers at SVSU have been studying a local waterway that exhibits excessive eutrophication, a process that includes pronounced algae growth. To demonstrate a potential river remediation technique, algae were collected and made into bioplastics. This was done using a method previously developed at SVSU which combines cellulose and protein obtained from agricultural byproducts. In this work, algae were used as the source of cellulose. Removal of the algae from the river removes some stored nutrients from the water system, potentially reducing eutrophication. The bioplastics were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and fracture analysis. This poster will include bioplastic characterization results as well as water quality implications of using this otherwise unexploited resource.

Bioplastics from algae:  Making use of eutrophication

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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