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Topics: Environmental technology, Recycling

  • At the Dåva waste treatment plant in Umeå, microalgae are grown in wastewater, both in greenhouses and outdoors, to be used for producing biodegradable plastics. Photo: Christiane Funk

    Researchers aim to create biodegradable plastic – from algae

    The Waste2Plastic project at Umeå University has received SEK 15 million from the Swedish Energy Agency and its industrial partners to produce biodegradable plastics, PHA, using microalgae. The algae are grown in wastewater in Umeå and convert carbon dioxide from flue gases into biomass.

  • The results show that microalgae grown on wastewater can be a raw material for the production of degradable bioplastics. Foto: KamranAydinov/Freepik

    Nordic microalgae – potential superstars in the green transition

    The carbon dioxide emissions of the growing human population have a massive impact on the climate. While many are seeking solutions, researchers in Umeå, Sweden, might have found one right in front of their houses: Nordic microalgae. A thesis from the Industrial Doctoral School at Umeå University shows that microalgae fed on wastewater can be used to produce degradable bioplastic.

  • Through laboratory testing, Norafiqah Ismail has developed three families of more environmentally friendly solvents for the production of artificial membranes. Photo: Naser Tavajohi

    Non-toxic solvents provide greener production of artificial membranes

    Artificial membranes play a vital role in healthcare, energy storage and resource recovery. However, the fabrication is not environmentally friendly. In a thesis from Umeå University, Norafiqah Ismail introduces alternative solvents that outperforms traditional toxic ones in terms of cost, sustainability, and performance.