Ano ang proyektong 'A Valorization of Agri-Fishery Materials Using Opportune Science?
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00:00 [Filipino Newsreel Narration]
00:25 [Filipino Newsreel Narration]
00:40 Good morning, good morning Dianne, good morning Audrey and Titi.
00:47 Good morning Dr. Ponce, can you explain to us
00:50 what is the importance of the project Avamos in transforming mussel shell waste into nanomaterials?
00:57 And what is the potential effect of this on the conservation of our environment?
01:01 So before I explain the importance of Avamos, I will introduce our group first.
01:09 So Avamos or Avalorization of Agri-Fisheries Materials using Opportunity Science
01:15 is a trademark of the group of researchers at UT Visayas.
01:19 And I was the leader back then when the aim was to create things that can be used as materials
01:25 that are just thrown away and are damaging the environment.
01:28 So our group follows the principles of circular economy and green nanotechnology.
01:34 So what we do is we look at the leading ways of the process of the rich sea and agriculture of the region.
01:42 So the highest level here in the region is the process of mussel and we are doing a way
01:50 of how to get nanomaterials from the mussel shells that they throw away.
01:54 So we are also looking at how to reduce the spread of waste from mussel shells,
02:01 how to avoid the use of chemical waste to convert it to nanomaterials,
02:06 and how we can reduce the use of energy while converting mussel shells into nanomaterials.
02:13 So for example, here in Western Visayas, we have a group here that is making low-salt mussel fish.
02:23 So if the mussel fish that the group is making is one ton,
02:28 more than one ton of mussel shells are being thrown away by this project.
02:34 So if one ton is being thrown away, the look of the trash will be mountainous if it is not thrown away
02:40 and it is damaging the environment.
02:42 So what we do is we convert mussel shells into nano-absorbents and nano-fertilizers,
02:50 things that are important for aquaculture and agriculture.
02:54 So in this way, the project is able to address the problem of the increase of solid waste in the region
03:00 while the income of mussel processors is increasing, and at the same time, we are taking care of the environment.
03:06 Okay, Doctor, you are also giving the implementation of the project,
03:11 and also helping the industry partners.
03:14 How does this cooperation help in achieving the projects' goals,
03:20 and what is their role in this process?
03:24 So in the long-term goal of our projects in TOST,
03:29 we are looking at how to transfer the technology to the community.
03:33 So since our beneficiaries are community, even if it is just one project,
03:37 it is important for the industry partners to be able to talk
03:41 because they are the ones who know what they really need in their industry.
03:45 They are able to provide important information and data,
03:49 not only on their production problems, but also on compliance with the requirements of the regulatory agencies.
03:55 So this is an example of our mussel project.
03:58 When I wrote the proposal, I was looking at the problem of eutrophication
04:03 that is caused by the increase of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers
04:08 that are used in agriculture and aquaculture.
04:11 But when I talked to the industry,
04:14 they said that they want to solve their problem
04:19 by increasing the carbon dioxide from the respiration of fish and shrimp.
04:27 So while we were talking to the industry partners,
04:31 we were pivoting to our project
04:33 because the first plan was only phosphorus,
04:36 and then we added carbon dioxide.
04:39 So it's good that the nanomaterials that we made from mussel shells
04:43 also remove carbon dioxide from the water.
04:45 So even if the original objective of the program is just for phosphorus removal,
04:52 because our material also removes carbon dioxide,
04:57 the resources and effort of the project will not be wasted.
05:01 So that's where we see that the project is just starting,
05:05 we should be talking to our target beneficiaries
05:08 so that the technology's results will fit their needs in the industry.
05:15 Okay, the purpose of this initiative is to reduce the accumulation of solid waste
05:21 and improve our environment.
05:24 Can you elaborate on how the production of nanomaterials from mussel shells
05:30 can help reduce waste and possible environmental benefits?
05:36 In the Philippines, the production of mussel shells is around 19,000 metric tons.
05:42 Half of it is in the Western Visayas.
05:46 So if the whole Philippines has 19,000 metric tons,
05:49 there are almost 10,000 metric tons in the Visayas.
05:52 If you're processing mussel shells,
05:54 60 to 80 percent of it are shells.
05:58 Only 20 to 40 percent of it is edible.
06:03 So if we have 9,000 metric tons of mussel here in the Western Visayas,
06:09 6,000 metric tons of it is the waste.
06:13 It will look like a mountain if we don't throw it away.
06:18 So what the project does is,
06:20 rather than throwing away the mussel shells that came from the mussel processing,
06:27 we convert it into nanomaterials.
06:30 So from trash, it becomes nanomaterials that we use in aquaculture and agriculture.
06:38 So you make it into something that you just throw away.
06:42 Doctor, how is the mussel shell waste processing being done under the Avamos project?
06:50 And what are the products and materials that can be made from this
06:54 that have a positive effect on our agriculture?
06:59 So our project, we have a lot of products that we make here.
07:04 So first, we collect the shells from the mussel fish producers
07:09 and the restaurants in the Western Visayas.
07:12 We collect it by the sun and we powder it so that we can speed up the process in the laboratory.
07:17 Now, when it's powdered, we have three steps in making the material.
07:22 So first, we dissolve the mussel shells.
07:26 When it's dissolved, we can make calcium supplements from the food and feeds.
07:33 Now, the second process, we make the material that removes the excess phosphorus
07:40 and carbon dioxide from the aquaculture water.
07:43 This is what we call nano-absorbents.
07:46 Because it absorbs the phosphorus and carbon dioxide that is thrown in the water.
07:51 Now, the third step, from our nano-absorbent, we do a functionalization
07:58 or we add another chemical to make a slow-release nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer
08:05 that is used in agriculture.
08:07 So the advantage of a slow-release nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer
08:11 is that it doesn't burn the plants, you need to add less and it's easier to apply.
08:16 So it saves our farmers.
08:18 At the same time, because it's a slow-release fertilizer,
08:21 it doesn't remove the fertilizer from the environment quickly.
08:29 So it doesn't mix with the water when it rains.
08:34 So we can take care of our environment if we have a slow-release nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer in agriculture.
08:42 What they do is really good.
08:44 We thought that it's just garbage, you just throw it away, for instance, the shell of the container.
08:50 There are so many products that can be made.
08:53 And you will be alive with this initiative.
08:55 And I hope we can expand this activity.
08:59 Thank you for giving us important details about your project, Avamos, Dr. Ponce.
09:06 Again, thank you for joining us, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry,
09:10 UP Visayas, Dr. Concepcion Ponce.
09:13 Thank you.