In a world increasingly reliant on hydrocarbon-based materials, the development of alternatives has become a necessity for designers. This project has developed an optimised eight step batch production process for scobio; a biofilm plastic replacement grown from Scottish gin distillery waste. Its proven antimicrobial nature, biodegradability and high water holding capacity makes it best suited to high-value medical applications such as wound dressings and absorbent pads within food packaging. Alternative growing conditions were shown to produce a lower water holding capacity film which, after post-growth purification, became a colourless and translucent film capable of replacing single-use soft plastics that are currently non-recyclable.

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Fergus Telfer
MEng

fergus.telfer@gmail.com
fergustelfer.com

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