Biomass – Introducing Algae foam in Shoes

 

Abstract

Ecologically, algae are very important since they form the largest portion of primary aquatic producers. At present, algal biomass has attracted a great deal of interest in biofabrication, food processing, bioactive compounds and bioenergy. The natural water medium was used in this research to cultivate the algal biomass of the mixed culture in the photo-bioreactors with different detention periods. On the heels of independent sustainability study, the mission-driven to make unisex shoe, which highlighted eco materials as a key factor in customer buying decisions with the help of algae foam based. The project aims to achieve a functional reactor design and to improve the productivity of the developed algae foam material. This performance-based foam has been developed by BLOOM Foam. To make shoes, surfboards and more, the sustainably sourced foam made of algae biomass is used.

Algae should be used to help reduce the harmful levels of phosphorus and ammonia that cause ecologically harmful algae blooms and water quality problems in industrial and agricultural waste water. After years of study, it was discovered that the protein-rich algae biomass underwent a plasticization process when put under substantial heat, strain, and time.

Keywords: Microalgae, Biomass, Natural water medium, Detention time, Bio fabrication.

 

Introduction

Algae are one of the few organisms which, due to global warming, actually survive, creating a problem of their own. Algae grow rapidly, but only live for a brief period of time until they begin to die, a process that absorbs oxygen from the water. Algae can suffocate marine life in large amounts, referred to as algal bloom. A US-based business named Bloom has found a way to extract and transform the algal bloom into bio-foam. Bloom, of which Algix is the parent company that manufactures bioplastics, does not farm their own algae because they want to provide a solution to the issue of algae that is rapidly growing. Furthermore, they fear that genetically modified algae strains could leak into the environment and cause even more harm. They therefore derive their algae in waters that are at risk of heavy algal blooms, such as lakes, rivers, and ponds. In Mississippi, Alabama, and throughout China, they are currently harvesting.

Nevertheless, the foam has many benefits over other forms of foam. They keep the ecosystem of the rivers in check by algae harvesting, use less non-renewable oil, and use GMO- and pesticide-free feedstock. Furthermore, the foam has antimicrobial properties that are derived exclusively from algae. This antimicrobial factor is 99.99% effective against the production of odor-causing bacteria. All the foams are hypoallergenic as well. Bloom provides eight stock colours, and for negotiated minimum order quantities, they manufacture custom colours. Since algae have a natural greenish colour, at the moment they do not give white.

Background

Effekt is an environmental materials development company based in San Diego, and ALGIX is the world’s largest harvester of algae based in Meridian, MS. Rob Falken, Effekt’s managing director and founder of BLOOM, developed the algae-based foam as a solution to both our reliance on petrochemical ingredients and to turn the algal bloom that infests the world’s waterways into a helpful sustainable foam Vivo and BLOOM are like-minded companies in many ways. Both are young companies powered by creativity, with the sincere aim of changing the status quo of our respective industries by environmental responsibility.

One pair of VIVOBAREFOOT x Bloom algae shoes supplies the world with 57 gallons of clean water. Sustainability equals shoe-making barefoot. Shoes made from repurposed algae (Ultra Bloom) and another Eco range of 17 recycled bottles per pair made from 50 percent recycled plastic have already been pioneered. Last year, in our shoes, the brand diverted over 2 m of plastic bottles from landfills this way.

 Methodology

With algae blooming, a mobile harvester machine pumps up the pond water. The water is combined with a coagulant that is water-safe, allowing the algae to clump together. Through air bubbles, these flocks are forced to the surface, then skimmed off into a storage tank. The water is filtered and put back in the pond after that. In a solar drying technique, the algae mass is dewatered and dried. It is converted into versatile foam when the mass is dry. While Bloom is a bit unclear about how, they say that their method is safe for fish and other aquatic life.

Despite being based on algae, the bio-foam is not biodegradable – though Bloom says it may be in the future. For now, though, they combine the algae with a substance called ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) that improves the output qualities, but is not biodegradable. The bio-foam comprises 15 to 60 per cent of the mass of the algae. Bloom claims that foams

Result

In the cold, the material offers greater durability and is highly resilient to abrasions and general wear. Susterra Propanediol uses 42 per cent less electricity and 56 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than the conventional petroleum-based products used by the global footwear industry. The mission of Vivobarefoot is to build the most sustainable shoes on the planet, and the founders are firm believers that sustainability equates to barefoot shoe-making.with nearly 100 per cent algae content can also be made.

Conclusion

Ecologically speaking, these foams are not the ideal alternative, however. Nevertheless, it continuously works towards the aim. If demand increases and corporations start to understand that environmental stewardship and the accomplishment of business objectives are not mutually exclusive, we will be able to do more to extend our environmental benefits. It is working towards the development of high-algae foams that are 100 % biodegradable. Laboratories have achieved this goal as a proof of principle, but the cost of developing this technology is currently too costly to promote mass market adoption. This report also seeks to save the world, pragmatic about the problems facing corporations when it comes to embracing digital technologies and what it takes to hit the demand for new products. It believes that reached a balance for what is needed to conduct business today in a responsible manner.

There is currently a tug between the development of sustainable materials with a higher price point or poorer quality and high-performance materials with negative impacts on the environment. Sincerely hope it is motivated by environmental consciousness and a desire to empower and enrich our global society, whatever the future of wearable technology looks like.

 

References

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6. BLOOM BRAND – The Bloom Story (2019)
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8. Algenesis, Bio-Foam has Proven to Biodegrade in the Natural Environment, (19. Aug 2020)