Development and Characterization of sustainable Materials from invasive brown Seaweed Ruguopteryx okamurae
- Autores: Ismael Santana Romero
- Directores de la Tesis: Carlos Bengoechea (dir. tes.), Manuel Félix Angel (dir. tes.)
- Lectura: En la Universidad de Sevilla ( España ) en 2025
- Idioma: inglés
- Número de páginas: 273
- Títulos paralelos:
- Desarrollo y caracterización de materiales sostenibles a partir del alga parda invasiva Rugulopteryx okamurae
- Enlaces
- Tesis en acceso abierto en: Idus
- Resumen
This PhD thesis investigates the valorization of the invasive brown seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae as a raw material for bioplastic production and sustainable composites. As an invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea, Rugulopteryx okamurae poses a significant threat to biodiversity. Its proliferation disrupts local ecosystems, prompting efforts to repurpose this biomass into environmentally friendly materials.
The main objective is to develop and characterize sustainable materials using this seaweed. Two pathways were explored: the first involved the production of bioplastics and biocomposites by combining freeze-dried seaweed with glycerol as a plasticizer and blending it with polycaprolactone, acylated soy protein isolate, and cassava starch. These materials were processed through injection molding and characterized for their structural, rheological, thermal, mechanical, and functional properties; the second pathway focused on extracting and characterizing sodium alginate from the seaweed and comparing its properties with those of commercial alginates. Calcium alginate hydrogels were then produced, rheological properties were determined, and they were doped with polyphenols extracted from orange peel waste, with the aim of enhancing their rheological properties. Additionally, a life cycle assessment was performed to evaluate the environmental impact of the sodium alginate extraction process.
This research demonstrates the potential of Rugulopteryx okamurae as a renewable resource for bioplastics, providing a solution to both the ecological challenge of its invasive nature and the need for sustainable materials, aligning with efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote the circular economy.
