T-RIS Biofilter


Key Achievements


  • Demonstrated PETase expression in a plant system – Achieved transient expression of PETase fused with an alpha-amylase signal peptide in Nicotiana benthamiana, showing that plants can produce and secrete plastic-degrading enzymes.
  • Established a scalable biofilter concept – Designed and prototyped the T-RIS modular raft system, which uses aquatic plants and a replaceable capture mesh to remove microplastics passively, without external power or chemicals.
  • Integrated biosafety innovation – Proposed a layered containment strategy including maternally inherited transgenes and a light-triggered kill switch to address GMO release concerns.
  • Market analysis & business model validation – Identified six key customer segments in Thailand (municipal utilities, aquaculture farms, vertical/organic farms, beverage producers, tourism/hospitality and NGOs) with a total addressable market of approximately 875 million THB and clear ASEAN expansion potential.
  • Financial and operational planning – Developed a three-year growth forecast (250 to 1,500 units), recurring subscription model (pod replacement), and a 1.4 million THB funding plan (600 k equity, 800 k loan) to support pilot production and commercialization.
  • Regulatory and ethical framework – Mapped Thailand’s GMO restrictions and invasive species rules to plan for compliance, safe field testing and eventual international deployment.
  • Global scalability vision – Positioned the T-RIS Biofilter as a flexible platform that can adapt to different plant species and regulations, opening opportunities for expansion into other regions facing microplastic contamination.

Summary


This business plan proposes an innovative, plant-based floating filtration system to reduce microplastic pollution in Thailand’s waterways. Our product uses modular rafts planted with water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), a fast-growing, locally abundant aquatic plant whose dense root mats are highly effective at capturing and absorbing microplastics. While the current commercial design focuses on water hyacinth because of its rapid growth, high root surface area and local abundance, the T-RIS Biofilter platform is not restricted to this species.

Download the full business plan (PDF)