The Center for Sustainable Polymers located at MSU-IIT, is one of DOST’s Niche Centers in the Regions (NICER) under the Science for Change Program (S4CP). The Center is a multi-disciplinary research and training facility which addresses the problems and gaps in the R&D for bio-based or renewable polymers to create a productive and symbiotic environment in research, development and ultimately, commercialization of sustainable polymer products for industrial and medical applications. It also addresses the scarcity of laboratory facilities and polymer experts in Region 10 and neighboring areas to help related industries for global competitiveness and sustainability utilizing the locally-sourced raw materials and wastes converting it into high-value products.
There is a growing demand of sustainable polymers in the global market, and processing of the abundant, sustainable raw material sources in our locality such as coconut by-products or derivatives and fish processing wastes significantly contributes to deal with global dependence on petroleum. In fact Region 10 is one of the biggest biodiesel producers in the country with over 25% in production capacity. Northern Mindanao is being developed to become the breeding ground for technological and entrepreneurial advancement given the atmosphere of innovation cultivated by local academic institutions. MSU-ligan Institute of Technology plays an important role in spearheading the utilization and conversion of local sustainable polymer raw material sources into value-added and industrially important polymer products.
The NICER - Center for Sustainable Polymers carries on research and development to process coconut monoglycerides (CMG) into functionalized polyols for industrial polyurethane applications, develop extracellular matrix from fish processing wastes for nutraceutical and biomedical application, and innovate to produce polyurethane-modified concrete-nanocomposite from crude glycerol for industrial flooring systems.
The Center provides accessible and high-quality polymeric materials testing services through its wide range of analytical equipment and process capabilities. The facility can also host contract researches and a vehicle to render technical extension activities to a wide range of research and development needs of related emerging technologies. Specifically, through providing information (education), product evaluation, research and development, and materials testing for clients coming from but not limited to the Philippines.
The CSP is the first of its kind in Region 10 and the Philippines that has the main R&D capacity and expertise to contribute to the knowledge-based economy of the country. This is attained through generating principles and protocols for the production of sustainable polymer – based products that provide innovative solutions to support a technology-enabled market in the Philippines.
