Rebecca Koshy with a bread bag clip made of biodegradable bioplastic. The mixture she developed includes a hydrophobic coating of beeswax, which makes the material water resistant. (Jacob Arts/Western Engineering)
Rebecca Koshy with a bread bag clip made of biodegradable bioplastic. The mixture she developed includes a hydrophobic coating of beeswax, which makes the material water resistant. (Jacob Arts/Western Engineering) A Western student has pioneered an innovative solution to the plastic pollution problem by developing biodegradable bioplastics. Rebecca Koshy, a fourth-year chemical and biochemical engineering student, conducted her research as part of an Undergraduate Summer Research Internship (USRI) program, focused on creating sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics using materials sourced from wastewater, forest and food waste. The mixture Koshy developed incorporates algae, polysaccharide (derived from orange peels), glycerol (from plant and animal fats and oils) and pine needles. (Jacob Arts photo) The USRI program provides undergraduate students with engaged research experiences and opportunities to learn new research methods and techniques alongside faculty mentors. It also helps develop skills in preparation for future careers.
TO READ THIS ARTICLE, CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
And extend your reading, free of charge and with no commitment.
