Eggshell and Bacterial Cellulose Biocomposite Manufacturing Process
The idea of crafting a composite material from eggshells and bacterial cellulose is both exciting and intriguing. I’m captivated by the promise this blend holds—not only is it innovative, but it aligns with my interest in sustainable design and natural material exploration. Before diving into the process, I'm researching the unique properties each component brings to the table.
Eggshell and Bacterial Cellulose Composite Membrane as Absorbent Material in Active Packaging
I read this article and learnt that eggshells, primarily composed of calcium carbonate, are surprisingly strong and resilient. They’re also an abundant, waste-derived material, which makes them ideal for upcycling. Bacterial cellulose, on the other hand, offers flexibility, tensile strength, and a smooth, skin-like surface texture. The article also shows how the structure of bacterial cellulose interwoven with the hardness of calcium carbonate could produce something remarkably durable and versatile. I envision this composite as something that could mimic plastic in functionality but with a far more environmentally friendly life cycle.
Since I'm personally very interested in scoby (I signed up for the December workshop!) I asked Marcela if she had extra scoby for me to use. She graciously loaned it to me so I had an extra assignment experiment with the Eggshell and Bacterial Cellulose Composite recipe**.**
I followed a straightforward recipe:
Here’s how I put it together:
Blending: I started by blending the SCOBY with a portion of the water to create a paste. Once it was smooth, I added the protein powder and the remaining water, blending again until everything was well combined.
Drying: I spread the mixture onto a drying rack to remove excess moisture. To ensure thorough drying and prevent mold (an issue some people mentioned in the comments of the instructional video), I placed a layer of cloth on top. However, I later discovered that this caused part of the composite to stick to the cloth.
The composite did end up drying completely, but the portion against the cloth adhered a bit too well. For my next attempt, I plan to skip the cloth layer and instead use a piece of saran wrap, possibly wicking away any extra moisture beforehand to avoid sticking.
This initial try has me excited about the potential of Bacterial Cellulose (with a local version SCOBY)-based composites and eager to refine my process. Once I complete the workshop, I’m looking forward to experimenting further with different techniques to improve the texture, drying process, and durability of the material.
May have future updates as I dive deeper into the world of bacterial cellulose composites! 🤗
😕 noooooo
But this little dry piece is already better than I expected!
(That I thought it wouldn’t fry at all…