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Bioremediation & Bioplastics
Seaweed and mussel culture as natural bio filters to clean our seas, protect our fisherman's livelihoods, create biodegradable plastic alternatives and invent new market opportunities.
WHY BIOREMEDIATION ?
Harmful algal blooms release toxins into our waters causing serious health issues for both marine life and humans. Furthermore, their rapid growth depletes oxygen and releases toxin, leading to massive fish kills and subsequently jeopardising the livelihood of coastal fish farmers.
However, this phenomenon can be combatted through nature's bio filters - seaweed and mussels.
HOW DOES IT HELP?
BIOREMEDIATION
is the process of decontamination using living biota, in this case, naturally growing seaweed and mussels. Click below to find out how seaweed and mussels filter.
Mussels
They feed by filtering algae, bacteria and small organic particles from the water, thus consuming these toxic-producing algae and improving overall water quality.
mussels are natures' biofilters
OPP'S SEAWEED & MUSSEL LINES
To harness seaweed and mussels' filtration properties to protect local offshore fish farm's stock, OPP deployed ropes around the perimeter of the farm. This allows seaweed and mussels to latch onto the ropes, creating a curtain of natural filters.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: BIOPLASTICS
Harvested seaweeds can be dried and processed to produce a bioplastic polymer.
seaweed plastic
MUSSEL plastic
Mussels attach to surfaces via strong and flexible fibres which can withstand incoming waves. These chemical compounds can be mimicked to produce strong and flexible plastic.
Seaweed and mussels grown will eventually be harvested and turned into bioplastics - a truly biodegradable form of packaging.
