Shrimp and crab shell fibres called chitin nanowhiskers form the base of this new material, which would allow automotive components to meet strict environmental standards without compromising vehicle safety. This material has a much higher strength-to-weight ratio compared to conventional plastics used in most automotive components, and provides higher mechanical strength without aesthetic flaws or deformation at lower densities.

Due to the composite nature of the material, mechanical properties can easily be engineered to suit various strength, stiffness and weight requirements simply by varying the combination of chitin nanowhisker and polymer content. The material is also completely renewable and sustainable as chitin nanowhiskers are derived from the waste of the fishing industry.

More info

The proponents of the initiative plan to develop technology to produce advanced biofuels and high added value chemicals with low emissions of carbon dioxide and low cost, using native giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) farmed in a sustainable manner.

More info

World Health Energy Holdings, Inc. , a public holding company developing joint venture partnerships for algae production for biodiesel and commercial fish food, announced today the signing of Letter of Intent with Prime Inc., an India Industrial and transport Company, to develop a biodiesel production facility ramping up to 250 acres with a budget of up to 100 million dollars.

The proposed sites for development are in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, India and will utilize an Algae Enhancement Technology, known as the GB3000 system, used for growing algae for the production of Fish Feed, Proteins and Bio-fuel in the Territory of India. Prime Inc. India’s current clients include: Exon, Shell, General Electric (GE) and Siemens.

More info

Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering analyzed insect cuticle, which includes chitin and other proteins, such as the fibroin also found in spider silk. They then devised a method to produce a material made up of layers of chitin and fibroin. The result is on par with an aluminum alloy for strength, but at half the metal’s weight.

They call the stuff “shrilk”—a combination of shrimp, as discarded shrimp shells are a good source of chitin, and silk. Its flexibility can be manipulated by adjusting the water content–just as insects do. The research is in the journal Advanced Materials.

More info

Gurry Investments, a Boston-based investment firm established in 2000, is using its technology to produce organic fertilizer using waste from farmed fish. The company, working with fertilizer producer Multi Bloom and Mega Green, which is owned by Consolidated Catfish of Isola, Miss., uses a hydrolysis process. The skin and bones are removed from filleted fish, leaving the protein. The offal is ground into a slurry form, processed and separated in a three-stage centrifuge. The result is a product with 10 percent high quality fish oil and 4 percent sediment, which is used as ground cover, hydrolysate or organic fertilizer.

According to Carl Reetz, president of Gurry Investments, using fish waste for organic fertilizer instead of fishmeal or fish oil can benefit both processors and the seafood industry as a whole.

More info

Some 30 million NOK are to be made available for new initiatives alongside continuing support for established programmes such as MABIT and Marbank.

Both current methods of producing bioethanol, reducing carbon dioxide or the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose or lignocellulose, are onerous. In this context, the acetate-to-ethanol reduction has shown to be a promising source of economically viable bioethanol. Many works consider that obtaining ethanol from acetate would be excessively onerous due to the cost of separating acetate present in wastewaters.

There is, however, an abundant natural source of acetate that has been neglected in this discussion: chitin. Acetate is abundantly present in chitin, the second most abundant natural polymer in nature (by cellulose only). The obtention of acetate from chitin can take place in a simple way, through the alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of this polymer.

More info

According to the research group led by Professor Hiroyuki Yano at Kyoto University’s Research Institute for “Sustainable Humanosphere,” the key to the study is a soft and highly heat-resistant fiber called “chitin” that is found in crab and shrimp shells.

The researchers discovered that the shell could become transparent if protein is removed from it and it is coated with different types of resin, including acrylic. After succeeding in making the shell transparent, the team applied the theory in the construction of a heat-resistant sheet, which they succeeded in making by crushing the transparent shell into powder and adding resin to it. With the effect of chitin from the crab’s shell, the sheet was about 10 times more heat-resistant than resin without the component addition.

More info

Bremond came up with the technique while collaborating with a master chef who wanted to put flavours in small compartments. To create liquid-filled beads, drops are coated with a seaweed solution. Then they’re dropped into a calcium bath containing detergent, which causes the algae to harden and form a shell. Without detergent, the watery coating would still gel, but it would quickly mix with its liquid contents.

Beyond culinary creations, Bremond is using the method to package cancer cells and study them in a 3D environment. The permeable beads prevent cell contamination, while allowing drugs to flow in.

More info

The Development Council was contracted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to complete an economic development asset map and a strategic plan for southeast Alaska. “The map and plan would focus on actions to strengthen select industry sectors in the region, such as fishing, tourism and timber,” according to JEDC.

Previously, the Southeast Alaska Ocean Products Working Group identified their 10 action initiatives between Jan. and May of this year.

The group discusses ways to develop region-wide mariculture zoning, increase wild salmon production through habitat restoration, develop a sea otter management program in southeast Alaska, establish a marine industry technology and workforce improvement consortium, include the seafood industry in USDA programs, enhance salmon production, study the conversion of southeast Alaska fish byproduct to biogas and fertilizer through anaerobic digestion, further develop renewable energy, protect long term access to fishery resources and ensure southeast’s fishing future through targeted education and training in the acquisition and financing of fishing permits, quota and fishery businesses.

More info