23-Mar-26 Chulalongkorn University has developed recycling technology to turn fishing nets into 3D-printing filament—reducing marine waste, contributing to a circular economy, and increasing income for fishing communities.
Dr. Nuttapol Risangud, a lecturer at the Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, primary research focuses on developing materials for 3D printing in medical and other applications, ranging from hydrogel materials for tissue engineering to flexible materials for medical devices. As a polymer chemistry expert, he initiated the project titled “Development of a Prototype Innovation for Recycling Nylon from Fishing Nets in 3D Printing Technology.”
Ghost Nets: Deadly Threat to the Ocean
“Ghost nets” are abandoned fishing nets that drift aimlessly through the ocean like ghosts. Wherever they float, they create harm for marine life in that area.
The project “Development of a Prototype Innovation for Recycling Nylon from Fishing Nets in 3D Printing Technology” began operations in June 2025, supported by research funding from the Center of Excellence for Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT), along with recycled nylon plastic pellets from fishing nets and research collaboration from Ube Technical Center (Asia) Co., Ltd.
“Although some recycling of fishing nets is currently in practice, their applications remain quite limited. Opening a new channel through 3D printing technology will create a larger market for recycled plastic from nets. When there is a reliable market, more old nets will be collected, purchase prices will improve, fishermen will benefit more, and, more importantly, our seas will become cleaner. This is the true goal of the project — not merely to create a new product, but to build a sustainable system where all parties benefit together: the environment, the community, and the industry,” said Dr. Nuttapol.?
Processing: From Waste to Innovation
Transforming discarded fishing nets into quality filament for 3D printers is not an instantaneous process. It requires multiple systematic processing stages, from retrieving ghost nets from the sea to producing ready-to-use filament.
Step 1 – Sorting and Cleaning: Once the nets are collected, the first task is to remove unwanted components such as lead, buoys, foam, ropes, and debris, including soil, sand, rocks, and shells that cling to the nets. They are then thoroughly washed. This step is a critical “pain point” because it requires large amounts of water and considerable space. For real-world implementation at a community level, careful planning around water systems and washing facilities is essential.
Step 2 – Shredding and Sizing: Once the nets are dry and clean, they are fed into a shredder or grinder to reduce them into smaller pieces, then sorted to obtain plastic flakes of the appropriate size for melting in the next stage.
Step 3 – Melt Compounding: The finely ground nets are melted and blended with various additives to improve their properties, then formed into recycled plastic pellets.
Step 4 – Filament Extrusion: The recycled pellets are melted again and extruded through a die into long strands, then drawn through a puller to produce filament with a consistent diameter of approximately 1.75 mm, which is the standard for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers.
Dr. Nuttapol explained why the nets aren’t extruded directly into filament from the start, but must first be converted into pellets: “Each batch of nets we receive has an unknown origin, so we can’t know the exact properties.
Pelletizing first allows us to much better control the quality and consistency of the final product.”
Filaments and 3D Printing: Opportunities for the Future
Filament is a plastic strand used as raw material for FDM 3D printers. The machine melts the plastic filament and deposits it layer by layer according to a computer-aided designed (CAD) model, gradually forming a complete three-dimensional object.
Outstanding Features of Filament from Recycled Fishing Nets
Dr. Nuttapol outlined two key advantages that distinguish filament made from recycled fishing nets from other types of filament:
Environmental Advantage: This product is environmentally friendly because it is made from waste discarded in Thai seas. Expanding applications for recycled plastics increases demand for recycled raw materials, which in turn encourages greater collection and recycling of old fishing nets. Ultimately, this creates benefits that flow back to fishing communities, the original source of the raw materials.
Technical Advantage: The research team can tailor the filament’s properties to suit specific applications. Although recycled plastics have different characteristics compared to virgin plastics, appropriate additives and formulation adjustments can bring their properties close to those of new-material filaments—particularly in terms of mechanical strength and printability in 3D printing processes.
For those interested in the innovation of recycling nylon from fishing nets for 3D printing technology, please contact Dr. Nuttapol Risangud at the Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, or reach out through the Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT).
Source: Petromat
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