A Sustainable Innovation by High School Students
Three high school students from Tokyo Metropolitan Tama High School of Science and Technology have developed innovative gloves made from a fiber found in seaweed slime. This remarkable invention has earned them the prestigious Denka prize at the Japan Science & Engineering Challenge (JSEC) 2023.
The trio, Shuhei Otsuka, Takumi Kaneko, and Reo Nishihira, focused their research on alginic acid, a dietary fiber responsible for the slimy texture of seaweeds like tangle and wakame. Their initial attempt to create plastic from alginic acid proved challenging. However, a playful experiment by Nishihira led to a breakthrough. He dipped his finger into an aqueous solution of sodium alginate and then into calcium chloride, resulting in a gel-like layer of calcium alginate perfectly covering his finger.
Inspired by this discovery, the students envisioned gloves that could adapt to any hand size. They conducted a survey of over 120 workers who use gloves in various industries, including restaurants and nursing care. This feedback helped them set the goal of developing comfortable and practical gloves. Through repeated prototyping and experimentation with different aqueous solution concentrations, they successfully created gloves strong enough for various tasks.
These seaweed slime gloves offer several advantages. Their high water content shields the wearer's hands from heat and cold while maintaining breathability. Additionally, they are recyclable. Soaking the gloves in an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate reverts them to their original sodium alginate form.
The students' innovation has been met with praise from professional researchers. During a visit to Denka Co.'s research facility, they received a certificate of merit and encouragement from Nobuyuki Yoshino, Denka's managing executive officer. He commended their approach of conducting surveys and addressing specific needs.
Despite the challenges they faced, the students persevered. Kaneko acknowledged the moments of doubt but emphasized the motivation he found in the amazement of others witnessing their experiments. Otsuka expressed their aspirations to improve the gloves' thickness and strength, envisioning future commercial products like antimicrobial and moisturizing gloves.
This remarkable invention by these young innovators demonstrates the potential of sustainable materials and highlights the importance of curiosity, perseverance, and collaboration in scientific exploration. Their seaweed slime gloves offer a promising solution for various industries while promoting environmental consciousness and responsible resource utilization.