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The environmental impact and economic feasibility assessment of composite calcium alginate bioplastics derived from Sargassum
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Researchers assessed the environmental impact and economic feasibility of producing calcium alginate bioplastics from Sargassum seaweed, presenting a novel approach that could address both plastic pollution and invasive seaweed problems in the Caribbean.
For much of the Caribbean, plastic pollution and the great Atlantic Sargassum belt has led to significant regional loss. To elevate these problematic areas, we present a novel calcium alginate bioplastic process from the lens of techno-economic and life cycle assessments.
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Researchers produced bioplastic films from Sargassum seaweed abundant along Malaysian coastlines and found the material outperformed synthetic plastic in strain endurance and decomposed fully in soil within 28 days, though its extreme water absorption (exceeding 1000%) due to alginate's hydrophilic nature remains a barrier to practical applications.
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Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.