Melanie Quan

Plastalgix: Developing a Sustainable Cycle of Compostable and Water-Soluble Plastics Using Waste Products of Algae-Based Biofuels
Melanie Quan

Melanie Quan

Alamo, CA

Grade 11

Inducted 2019

 

Plastic pollution has become a global environmental crisis, with nearly 40% of waterways covered in floating plastic waste. In order to combat this growing problem of plastic pollution, this experiment sought to develop an alternative plastic material. Using the waste products of algae-based biofuel production, I created plastics that are compostable in soil, water soluble, serve as natural fertilizers, and exhibit similar physical properties to conventional petroleum-based plastics used widely today. Research included finding an optimal algae species, testing strength, and evaluating potential environmental impacts in various routes of disposal. The implications of this new material are significant as they show that algal bioplastics have tremendous potential as sustainable solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis.