Recyclable Gloves Made from Seaweed Slime
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. Their invention earned them the prestigious Denka prize at the Japan Science & Engineering Challenge (JSEC) 2023.
The students, Shuhei Otsuka, Takumi Kaneko, and Reo Nishihira, focused their research on alginic acid, a dietary fiber responsible for the sliminess of seaweeds like tangle and wakame. Initially, they aimed to create plastic from alginic acid, but the task proved challenging.
One day, Nishihira playfully dipped his finger into an aqueous solution of sodium alginate and then into an aqueous solution of calcium chloride. To his surprise, his finger became tightly covered by a gel-like layer of transparent, gooey calcium alginate. This sparked the idea of using this material to create gloves that could perfectly fit anyone's hands.
Through extensive research and experimentation, the students surveyed over 120 workers who used gloves in various industries, including restaurants and nursing care. They aimed to develop comfortable and practical gloves that met the needs of these workers.
By experimenting with different aqueous solution concentrations, the students successfully created prototypes that were strong enough to endure various tasks. The gloves' ingredients contain abundant water content, keeping the wearer's hands comfortable and protected from extreme temperatures.
Moreover, the gloves are remarkably recyclable. Soaking them in an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate reverts them to their original sodium alginate form, allowing for reuse.
The students' innovation has been met with praise and encouragement from professional researchers. During a visit to Denka Co.'s research facility, they received a certificate of merit and valuable advice from Nobuyuki Yoshino, Denka's managing executive officer. Yoshino commended their approach of conducting a survey and tailoring their invention to meet specific needs.
Despite facing challenges and setbacks, the students persevered. Kaneko acknowledged the desire to give up at times, but the positive reactions from other students motivated him to continue. Otsuka expressed their hope to further improve the gloves' thickness and strength, envisioning the development of commercial products like antimicrobial and moisturizing gloves.
The students' innovative gloves made from seaweed slime demonstrate the potential of sustainable materials and the ingenuity of young minds. Their invention holds promise for various applications and contributes to a more environmentally conscious future.