The Laboratory of Polymer (POLIUNA) belongs to the School of Chemistry at the National University of Costa Rica, which is dedicated to the study of synthetic and natural polymers. Specifically, the POLIUNA has focused on the use of both marine and agricultural waste to extract materials with a higher added value. Specifically on the issue of marine debris, there are several studies about the extraction of chitin and chitosan, which constitute polysaccharides that are part of the exoskeleton of crustaceans. Chitosan in particular, because of its solubility in acid media has been used in various applications, as supports for cell growth, development of controlled release systems, fibers and nanoparticles. Moreover, in the agricultural waste theme, there are studies using the generated residues of various crops, among which are pineapple, banana, coffee, sugar cane, among others. In this area of research was obtained polylactic acid from fermentation of waste banana and subsequent polymerization, also various derivatives of cellulose, obtained from lignocellulosic waste, which include recent research on extracting micro and nanocellulose from coffee husks and pineapple stubble. Over the years, also there are several studies on composite materials, where were used various matrices of polyolefins (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride) reinforced with fibers obtained from pineapple stubble and banana rachis. In all the research there is a transverse axis which is the use of waste and by-products that are generated in various activities in order to generate new materials with higher value.

Use of marine and agricultural waste for the obtaining of new materials

251st National Meeting (2016)

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