Along the Caribbean coasts, sargassum macroalgae invades the beaches of Mexico, in the months of May to August.
In 2011, an exponential increase in the phenomenon began to be observed.
In 2024, along the Quintana Roo coast in Mexico, about 37 thousand tons were collected.
For 2025, the Environmental Monitoring and Climate Change Network of the Caribbean Sea estimates that 30 percent more sargassum will arrive on the coasts of Quintana Roo. Thus, a season of greater height.
With this in mind, response to how to deal with the overabundance of macroalgae have been sought. So, to take advantage of the thousands of tons of sargassum that cover the coasts of the Mexican Caribbean, a team of researchers from UNAM, sought development on a large scale.
Thus, these specialists, from the Center for Applied Physics and Advanced Technology of the UNAM, with experience in projects related to sargassum, developed a Sargapanel. It is a panel that can be used in construction panel, its development based on this marine macroalgae.
In one year, this research group developed a sustainable panel that can be used in construction.
Characteristics of Sargapanels
Among the characteristics of the panel is its high resistance to bending and is fire retardant. Its thermal insulation properties also reduce carbon footprint.
An edge is that the Sargapanels are highly resistant. They can be used in walls and ceilings and permitfor electrical and hydraulic installations. Their efficiency has been demonstrated through a first installation in a house in Mexico.
As a sustainable alternative, the Sargapanel is made from about 5 five kilograms of dried marine sargassum macroalgae with gypsum, per unit. This is equivalent to 50 or 60 kilograms of wet sargassum.
The Process of Producing Sargapanels
To begin, the process of developing Sargapanels begins on the coast. Members of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology (ICCyL) collect the algae. Other UNAM instances also participate in the manufacture. The algae is then subjected to a treatment of drying and bagged. Impurities such as salts, sand, and plastic are then removed from the dry raw material. The dry material is then ready to use.
Once it is cleaned, the material is crushed and sieved to obtain a powder. The powder, combined together with organic fibers and other components, results in a pulp with which the flexible cover of Sargapanel is manufactured. Overall, each panel contains up to 70% algae.
Photo credit: UNAM Global TV
Technology
Pertinent to technology, the development of the panels at the laboratory level is in accordance with the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards. The process, introduced by specialists as one that is completed by hand, consists of technology that is adaptable to production lines. Already, there is a company interested in acquiring this technology.
Lastly, in their manufacture, the panels save 60% of water and 40% of energy.
In summary, the development of Sargapanel responds to the problem of overabundance of sargassum algae.
Photo credit: UNAM
Author: AllMexico.store
References
Construction panels made with sargassum are developed – Gaceta UNAM
Read more….
Read more about Technology in Mexico.
