Usach research promotes the development of bioplastics with native algae as an alternative to traditional plastic

This is the “Territorial Bioplastic” project, whose objective was to develop a public platform that provides information on the production of bioplastics derived from the Pelillo algae. The initiative was led by the University of Santiago, the Catholic University and the Chinquihue Foundation, with the collaboration of the GORE of Los Lagos.

Paola Armijo, USACH Journalist.- The economic, social and environmental benefits that the production of bioplastics using local biomass can bring are getting closer to becoming a viable option to replace petroleum-derived plastic.

This was part of the issues that the closure of the project addressed «Territorial bioplastic: a data-driven platform for the development of bioplastics from sources of abundant biomass»which was financed by the Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological Development (Fondef-ANID).

The activity brought together the assistance of the research team and collaborators who were part of the initiative led by Usach, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and the Chinquihue Foundation, plus the support of the Regional Government of Los Lagos, Cooperativa Buta Huapi, TriCiclos, Metabolic Institute and Waymark Analytics.

The objective was to develop a public data driven platform called “Territorial Bioplastic” to provide information to entrepreneurs interested in making bioplastic packaging, using the native red algae (Gracilaria chilensis) known as Pelillo.

In this regard, Dr. Alysia Garmulewicz, director of the initiative and researcher at the Faculty of Administration and Economics (FAE), emphasized that the “project seeks to generate economic, social and environmental impact. First, creating an alternative to the use of plastics derived from petroleum, which negatively impact the environment by producing large volumes of waste; and second, adding value to local knowledge, cultivation and export of Pelillo algae, in order to offer a new market for the creation of bioplastic”.

He highlighted that at the institutional level, “the investigation was an example of collaboration”, between researchers from faculties of Administration and Economics, Science, Engineering and Technology, and the Center for Innovation in Containers and Packaging Laben-Chile. In addition, it had the support of the Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation and Creation, through the Technology Management Department.

Driving the value chain: From extraction to the final product

During the closing event, members of the research team intervened, who referred to the work and results obtained.

Dr(c). Davor Ibarra, a Usach researcher, explained the construction of the platform, detailing that “through artificial intelligence techniques and algorithms it was possible to synthesize the components and properties most reported in the scientific literature. The idea was to design a tool that allows monitoring and technological acceleration of this type of biomaterials. In addition, it provides information related to the properties of bioplastics, a territorial mapping of the algae biomass available for their manufacture and the places of extraction, among others”.

He stressed that specialists from various disciplines such as Dr. Charlene Smith in Chemistry; Dr. Thulasi Bikku in Data Mining and Mg. Valentina Hernández in Engineering, this team being led by Dr. Felipe Herrera, a researcher at the Faculty of Science.

From the Chinquihue Foundation they highlighted that the project is a way to value, impact and enhance the work of the Pelillo collector community, made up of more than 25 thousand people.

During the closing exhibition of the project, objects made of bioplastic were shown; the publications “Guide to the extraction of agar from El Pelillo” and “Guide to the manufacture of agar from El Pelillo”; as well as agar sheets, a substance derived from red algae that are used to make pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food products, among others.