How to make Algae Seaweed Bioplastic - BEST tips and tricks!

[@whothewho82]

This is wonderful, I particularly appreciate you going under the different types of seaweed

[@donovandelaney3171]

There was a guy that made a non-toxic and edible plastic called Starlite. They fed it the dogs and horses.

[@li_tien_yi]

I was super interested in bioplastics a few years back but my idea never materialized into anything. Super cool to see your project! Lmk where I can follow your work!

[@KathrynLarsen]

Oh I know the feeling- I felt very discouraged when I first started and stopped for 2 years. That's why I made this video! I post all my experiments @theseaweedgirl on instagram :)

[@McSanho]

Please share the recipe link. The link page is gone..T..T

[@greendesigns_]

Such a great video to start making bioplastic!

[@KathrynLarsen]

Thank you!!

[@orifox1629]

I'm thinking about how pre-petroleum-plastic people would make tools like forks, spoons, and combs from animal horn which was boiled in oil or soaked in water to soften it so it could be molded. It has a texture not too far from plastic from what I've heard and it biodegrades, which is why we don't have a ton of really really old examples. They also made windows from horn too! I'm wondering if bioplastics made from algae can be a more scalable alternative to petroleum based plastics and to horn for these sorts of things.

[@alessandrocasol9499]

Amazing project, thank you for sharing it ☺️

[@KathrynLarsen]

thank you for watching!

[@sakshimehta4582]

Amazing project! I’ll try it out for architecture assignment. Thanks for sharing

[@KathrynLarsen]

You can use also the website materiom for other open source bioplastic and biomaterial recipes. Try it out and experiment until you find a ratio you like!

[@EcoEnvious]

So, that is fascinating and I have lots of questions. Does it last a long time? Does it dissolve in any common liquids? Is it flexible? How thick a piece can you pour? Can you shape/melt it? I’ll have to try it out and find out!

[@angelimaeudto2103]

Hi! I'd like to ask if I can make the films into a packaging?

[@ashpatacpan]

Hi Ms. Kathryn. I am located here in the Southernmost of the Philippines, specifically in the BARMM region. We are the top producer of seaweeds here in the Philippines and I would really love to focus my thesis for my master's degree in Chemistry on seaweeds with the aim of furthering its application. I am fascinated with now I discovered other applications of bioplastic on the manufacturing of utensils, in replacement of synthetic plastics. Using bioplastics from seaweeds is obviously more sustainable. Where can i personally reach you? Hope you can give me insights. Thank you!

[@lennybogart]

So, if I want to make a plastic that is flexible after a certain temperature but then, sets again once it cools, I need to choose a plasticiser that only melts past a certain temperature and sets again below that temperature? Am I right??

[@Bemoldiyezoglu]

I cant acess the page thorugh the link it says We couldn't find the page you were looking for. This is either because: There is an error in the URL entered into your web browser. Please check the URL and try again. The page you are looking for has been moved or deleted.

[@hamidecelik9088]

What are the small particle things you put in it?

[@CombatPlasticPollution]

Thank you for this contribution!

[@carlapalazzo3943]

I need to make clothes and really struggling to find whats the best algae to use..where can I get the seaweed from and which one?

[@joyhouse4625]

How long does bio plastic less and how long can bio plastic protected food .

[@mrassiwala2000]

I wants to make binder from seaweed

[@magnuswootton6181]

melt it into the plasticiser!!! GOOD IDEA WITH THE HONEY THATLL WORK!!!

[@geronimomichaela3288]

hello,, can i get some advice my thesis is about bioplastic made by seaweeds and im making coffee sachet what is the easy way procedure?

[@geronimomichaela3288]

how can it make tasteless and odorless?

[@KathrynLarsen]

@@geronimomichaela3288 use agar, it's pretty tasteless. But you'll need to add a decent amount of plasticizer to the agar - enough so that it won't crack when dry. Look at NotPLA. Also you can heat seal the edges.

[@geronimomichaela3288]

@@KathrynLarsen but my seaweed is kappaphycus

[@KathrynLarsen]

@@geronimomichaela3288 working from raw seaweed, it is unlikey to be odorless or tasteless due to the minerals in the seaweed. Alginate, agar and carrageenan kappa are extracted chemically from the seaweeds and while these are tasteless, it's because they've been isolated from the rest of the seaweed.

[@nicholasnoah413]

Have you had the chance to use Caulerpa Lentillifera. Is it possible to make a bioplastic out of this seaweed?

[@spacecaptain9188]

Those links go nowhere. Would you plz put down the recipe here, or fix the links? I'd love to learn more about this , and try it at home with the kiddo!

[@marionsmylie6013]

Hi, what are the frames that you are using called please ? are they like paper making frames ? ( a wooden frame with a mesh ?) thank you !

[@KathrynLarsen]

Hi ! I just laser cut mine by hand. I think if you use a mesh, in many cases the bioplastic will bond with the mesh. You could also pour into a metal pan and use a dehydrator.

[@creskita4903]

how can you harden the plastic like a plastic bottle

[@sjsakerseaweed1708]

Nice video! Would reccomend you to try use Sugar kelp or Laminaria species for strenght as they has a much higher content of alginate. :-)

[@sawsayhe3208]

vegetable on land or in water that have plasticity can transform into bioplastic.

[@carlapalazzo7973]

Is it safe to make at home in a room or is it toxic to breathe?

[@marionsmylie6013]

Hi again, I am experimenting using your method but the pieces always curl up at the edges ! Any tips to keep them flat please? Thanks

[@KathrynLarsen]

Yes! Pour into a larger mold and then peel once 100% dry. I will be filming an updated video this week for perfect bioplastic sheets :)

[@marionsmylie6013]

@@KathrynLarsen thank you !

[@maggiesssss]

Hi! This is a very interesting video. I stumbled across it while I was doing research for a material studies project based around bioplastic. I tried my own experiments, however, they all seem to shrivel up/ crumple and become distorted while also shrinking significantly. When I try to put something heavy on top to keep the bioplastic flat, the moisture becomes trapped and the bioplastic starts to develop fungi. Has this ever happened to you, and if so do you have any tips on how to prevent this?

[@maggiesssss]

Although to be honest, a lot of the bioplastics I've tried to make also developed fungi without me even covering it. I've been using Agar Agar powder, glycerol and water in the recipe.

[@KathrynLarsen]

@@maggiesssss agar is super prone to shrinking. You may need to add less agar, more plasticizer, and be aware of humidity when you pour- a dryer room results in more warping. You can also experiment with adding other starches or glues like fish glue, and seeing if that helps the shrinkage.

[@KathrynLarsen]

@@maggiesssss if the sample doesn't dry fast enough you can get mold. But try looking at some of the ratios from materiom as a resource as well.

[@maggiesssss]

@@KathrynLarsen I'll test that out, thank you so much!

[@TariqueAli]

Me eating my agar-agar lamp when hungry

[@TariqueAli]

very informative stuff btw, I am looking to enter prototyping alternate materials for sneakers, might be something that I can look into from bioplastics

[@KathrynLarsen]

Hahahahahahah

[@KathrynLarsen]

@@TariqueAli yeah try it out!!

[@genevievejohnson6617]

Doing this for my science fair!!!!

[@KathrynLarsen]

good luck! For agar especially, be sure to experiment with adding different amounts of plasticizer. Too little and the sample may crack.

[@Bleepbleepblorbus]

Random tip: use vinegar to make the bio plastic last longer

[@KathrynLarsen]

This is true but I find it makes my bioplastic smell a bit. What kind of vinegar do you use?

[@Bleepbleepblorbus]

@@KathrynLarsen idk I just watch this honestly

[@fuzexi]

Hi, I am experimenting with alginate because that's mainly what grows here where I am. I can share with you my results if you still want

[@milesmamac9006]

Can you share to me sir

[@cactusfarmer]

Please collect algae from a pond, and turn it into bioplastic, and use the plastic to manufacture a bag, and call it a scum bag. Thanks and you're welcome.

[@Mark_nobody3]

When making bio plastic, I think people should be careful not to mix it up with gasoline based plastic because we know some corporations try cut corners

[@howtostartgrowing]

You're lit

[@mrassiwala2000]

Hi can u give something

[@elrose3470]

hello. do you have measurements using alginate?