President's Showcase
Cody O'Brien He/him
Supervising Professor: Dr. Qian Zhang
I am a junior Civil/Environmental Engineering student at FSU. After moving to coastal Florida when I was in high school, I was captivated by places like the Guana River Marsh preserve and the Canaveral National Seashore. Surrounded by rapid development, I wanted to direct my future career to help preserve these places, and help Florida grow in a sustainable manner. After enrolling at FSU, I joined the Environmental Service Program and the Surfrider Association and participated in native species restoration, educational outreach, beach cleanups, and other endeavors. After encountering the serious problems imposed by the invasive algae Sargassum Muticum, I became determined to find ways to utilize this otherwise parasitic lifeform.
Abstract
Sargassum muticum is an invasive species of marine algae affecting Florida and other areas along the Atlantic Ocean. The objective of this project is to attempt the first documented extraction of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from this species of algae and potentially examine real-world uses of these fibers, such as sustainable concrete reinforcement.
To date, we have refluxed our Sargassum samples through different solutions, with the goal of removing the lipids and proteins and breaking down the remaining cellulose into nanofibers. We followed the steps published in a prior study on extracting CNFs from freshwater algae Cladophora. We encountered many roadblocks and had to refine our methods when we discovered significant oversights and errors in the study, which was not published in a journal specializing in biology or biochemistry.
To further characterize the CNF samples, both for verification of extraction and for comparison to other biological CNFs, we have so far analyzed them under X-ray diffractometry to determine crystallinity. As of writing, we will complete scanning electron microscopy and ATR-FTIR on our samples within the next week.
There are prior academic studies covering the usage of CNFs (from other algae or plants) in standard and pervious concrete reinforcement, thermal insulation, and the development of medicine. If we find that we have successfully isolated CNFs to a certain degree, we may repeat the enhanced extraction process we have detailed from experience and test them in concrete in the fall.
Presentation Materials
