Materials science chemist Dr Victor Agbakoba researches for real life solutions.
For his PhD research he demonstrated the potential of using waste biomass from natural fibres, notably forestry waste sawdust, in the process of creating sustainable, plastic filament materials for 3D printing, known as bionanocomposites.
“The use of biobased plastic filaments for 3D printing is attracting much interest worldwide and is an untapped space in South Africa,” explains Agbakoba who graduated with his PhD in 2023 from the Department of Chemistry at Mandela University in 2023.
He combined sawdust waste from Eucalyptus grandis trees, together with plant-based biopolymers (such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyhydroxyalkanoates) to produce the biobased 3D printing filaments.
“They can be used for fused deposition modelling (FDM) - a 3D printing technique that uses melt extrusion to create objects by laying down filaments layer by layer - which has also not been sufficiently explored in South Africa. There is generally a heavy reliance on imported materials for this,” he elaborates.
“Through my research, I set out to help fill this gap in the South African market. What I produced worked, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is currently filing a patent for my research.”
His PhD was funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) through the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Agbakoba says the global drive to adopt more sustainable materials has encouraged the recent push for biobased alternatives made from renewable resources.
“The interest is spurred by an increasing demand for biodegradable, low-toxic, and environmentally friendly materials with a wide range of applications.” Which is exactly what he has done – he has found a way to extract value from biological waste to develop high-value products.
He explains the biopolymers used to make the biobased filaments are created from plant-based PLA, derived from renewable, organic sources such as corn starch or sugar cane.
Using biomass resources makes PLA production different from most plastics, which are conventionally produced using fossil fuels through the distillation and polymerisation of petroleum.
Development of a 3D-printed bionanocomposite grid with a heart-rate sensor
“Extrusion-based 3D printers use long, stringy plastic filaments to create physical objects or products,” he explains.
“To enhance the flexibility, processability, and compatibility of the filaments, I incorporated biobased and food-grade additives in the creation of the biobased filaments or ‘green’ bionanocomposites, and performed extensive mechanical and thermal analysis on them.”
Several of his findings have been published in internationally acclaimed peer-reviewed journals.
He says that what you can print with these filaments is only limited by the size of the 3D printer. “I had a small printer and so I demonstrated what can be done by printing household items like vases, coasters, plates and bowls.
He also developed a 3D printed, nanocellulose PLA bionanocomposite grid with a heart-rate sensor built into it for use in wearable e-textiles. This work was published in Science Scope in 2022.
He adds that with a bigger 3D printer “you can print anything, including architectural-designed furniture, which is being done.”
His research was recognised for its innovation at the 5th International Conference of Natural Fibers (ICNF2021) in Portugal. “I knew I was on the right track and I was able to demonstrate how plant-based waste, over and above its use in making products such as bioethanol, biofuels and biochemicals, could be used very effectively for all forms of 3D printing,” explains Agbakoba.
“I am passionate about solving problems to make a significant impact in industry, science and society. Access to funding for my PhD, a network of experts and intellectual guidance from research and academic institutions have all contributed to an environment in which I was able to do this.
“My supervisors also encouraged me to participate in international workshops and so far I have presented at four international conferences.” His PhD was supervised by Dr Maya Jacob John from CSIR’s Centre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials and Professor Percy Hlangothi from the Department of Chemistry at Mandela University.
Ironically, his path to success started with a headache. “It was the best headache of my entire life,” he says, and explains why: “After graduating with my BSc Honours from Abuja University in Nigeria, I started looking at at universities in Europe and the UK where people I know were pursuing their postgraduate studies.
"I was looking at Leeds and Exeter but I could not find what I needed. While continuing my search online, I developed a headache and went to the pharmacy to buy pills.
“In the pharmacy was this guy who was doing his PhD at Mandela University and he was having a conservation with the pharmacist about Mandela University. He said that you get the same high quality of education here at a fraction of the cost of European and UK universities.
He had done his Master’s in the UK but had chosen Mandela University for his PhD. He made such a good case for the university that I was convinced this was where I needed to go, and I asked the guy how I could apply. He sent me the application process and the rest is history.”
Agbakoba is now a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Broadband Communications (CBC) and Africa Earth Observatory Network (AEON) - Earth Stewardship Research Institute (ESSRI) at Nelson Mandela University.
His current research at the CBC involves the application of 3D printing in the production of photonic devices for applications in areas such as radio astronomy, and optical fibre-based sensing.
He is also part of a transdisciplinary research collaboration that is aiming to establish a new water quality monitoring geochemistry laboratory at AEON-ESSRI.
“We are looking at water analysis and building an optical sensor that can detect pollution, which we believe will be far more effective than the traditional techniques available,” Agbakoba explains. “As was the case with my PhD I am really enjoying the freedom to innovate for real life needs.”