Sonia Sousa

Title: The Innovative Contributions of Sonia Sousa

Introduction

Sonia Sousa is a prominent inventor based in South San Francisco, CA (US). She has made significant strides in the field of biomass-based materials, particularly focusing on the utilization of microalgal biomass. With a total of 3 patents to her name, her work has opened new avenues for sustainable materials and applications.

Latest Patents

Sonia's latest patents revolve around algal thermoplastics, thermosets, paper, adsorbants, and absorbants. Her innovative approaches include: (i) acetylation of microalgal biomass to produce a material useful in the production of thermoplastics; (ii) using triglyceride-containing microalgal biomass for the production of thermoplastics; (iii) combining microalgal biomass with at least one type of plant polymer to create a material useful in thermoplastics; (iv) anionization of microalgal biomass to form a water absorbant material; (v) cationization of microalgal biomass, along with optional flocculation, to create a water absorbant material; (vi) crosslinking of anionized microalgal biomass; (vii) carbonization of microalgal biomass; and (viii) utilizing microalgal biomass in the production of paper.

Career Highlights

Throughout her career, Sonia has worked with notable companies such as Solazyme, Inc. and Terravia Holdings, Inc. Her contributions in these organizations have been pivotal in advancing the research and development of sustainable materials derived from microalgae.

Collaborations

Sonia has collaborated with talented individuals in her field, including Ali Harlin and Anna-Stiina Jääskeläinen. These partnerships have further enriched her work and expanded the impact of her innovations.

Conclusion

Sonia Sousa's innovative work in the field of microalgal biomass has led to significant advancements in sustainable materials. Her contributions continue to inspire future research and development in this vital area.