This Bellingham startup uses crab shells to treat water
Bellingham startup Tidal Vision is turning to the deep sea for innovation.
Tidal Vision, founded in 2015, extracts a biomolecule called chitosan from crab shells that can be used for water treatment, agriculture and textiles in place of toxic or non-biodegradable materials. It's part of the company's goal to create a sustainable product that doesn't compromise on price or performance.
"Our key stock comes from a literal problematic byproduct, versus heavy metals that need to be mined and refined, or petroleum products that are subject to varying oil prices," said Craig Kasberg, co-founder and CEO of Tidal Vision.
Chitosan can bind to heavy metals and other pollutants in stormwater using what is called a cationic charge, which in turn cleans the water for use. Chitosan can also reduce the use of pesticides in agriculture.
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/inno/stories/news/2022/04/06/tidal-visions-bellingham-crab-shells-water.html