Jumiati Mohd Tahir, Nurrul Zulaikha Zainal, Behzad Khairiah Lee Mohd Affendi, Noordalila Ramli, Ahmad Suhail Khazali, Mohd Akmal Hashim, and Sharir Aizat Kamaruddin
Keywords: bioplastics, extractions, algae, seaweeds, Semporna
Abstract: Marine microalgae (seaweed) polysaccharides are particularly promising for next-generation applications in a variety of industries and it is an interesting organic polymer because it is economical, readily available, extremely biocompatible and environmentally friendly. Polysaccharides, proteins and lipids are a form of recycled and edible plastic, which is simpler to dissolve than non-renewable petroleum-based polymers. This polymer was used as a coating film in food coating or packaging because of its degrading characteristics and preservative capabilities that have better effects on the atmosphere and health. Due to the growing demand for seaweed as a food and raw material in the development of industrial colloids, such as agars, carrageen and alginates of varied use and applications in industry, a number of selected and cultivated varieties have been offered for research and development in many areas of the world, such as Sabah, East Malaysia. Sea-weed farming were established in Semporna, Sabah, in 1986 with the assistance of the Department of Fisheries workers and fishermen. Therefore, because of its high biomass, microalgae’s such as Gracilaria changii & Gracilaria Salicornia has the opportunities to improve the income of rural area since both of these seaweeds can be produced in a huge number of environments. They also are cost-effective, and can be easily grown in the environment to produce bioplastics from agar extractions.
