An analysis of creating plastic material based on the microalgae Scenedesmus

Abstract: The microalgae Scenedesmus Bloom are grown in sewage environment and contains, among other things, polymers of saccharides. The polysaccharides can possibly be extracted and used for the manufacturing of plastic material. The algae have a strong cell wall, can grow fast in severe external conditions and shows good ability to capture carbon dioxide. This study attempts to extract polymers from the algae, which will be used to create plastic films based on the microalgae. Analyses were made to determine which method gave the best results. The extraction methods that were performed were acid hydrothermal extraction, ultrasonic extraction and a combination of both methods. Before the extraction took place, preparation of the algae was performed. The preparation consisted of grinding the algae and washing the algae with acetone. The washing methods used in this study showed to not have a big influence and was therefore considered unnecessary. After the extraction, methods as dialysis and freezedrying were performed, for purification and drying of the extracted material. Finally, plastic films were made by a mixture of the extracted material and carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt. Successful films were created from extracted material from washed algae that had undergone ultrasonic extraction and from unwashed algae that had undergone the acid hydrothermal extraction. The study showed that washed algae that had undergone ultrasonic extraction gave the best results. The created films were very brittle and without the addition of any additives, no useful applications could be found.