Tag: biodegradable

Contorting molecules can store energy for as long as necessary. Meanwhile, a Hong Kong research team has turned to tofu in its drive to develop an environmentally-friendly, durable, cost-efficient battery. Water with salts of magnesium and calcium (similar to tofu brine) created the electrolyte. Due to its pH-neutrality, it attacked neither the highly conductive polymer anode nor the Prussian...

In the Netherlands, corn is a source of sustainable tiles. In California, however, a startup is using corn waste to create a super-absorbent and biodegradable material to replace the petrochemical liners in products like nappies and hygiene pads. The team developed special microorganisms to convert the corn’s sugar into a polymer, which can absorb as much liquid as materials...

Innovative and sustainable dyes for yarn are formed through fermentation using bacteria. Yet, in its search for a petroleum-free alternative for colourful textiles, a research team in South Korea created rainbow-coloured cellulose in a single process. Their recipe? Combining cultures from two optimised bacterial strains. Acetic acid bacteria belonging to the K. xylinus strain generated the cellulose, while E.coli...

A foam-based pressure bandage helps treat serious wounds. When bones break badly, medical practitioners often use metal plates or 3D-printed implants. Now, a research team in South Korea has developed an easy-to-use glue stick instead. The stick is made from biodegradable plastic, which melts at low temperatures, a phosphate mineral occurring naturally in bones and antibiotics. Using a modified...

The search for new ways to recycle plastic is gathering pace. An English startup is taking the reverse approach and using multilayered neural networks to create new proteins for sustainable textiles. Focusing only on biodegradable fibres free of fossil fuels. The team, formed during a university research project, has developed a deep-learning AI which bases its search on criteria...

Octopus can help give UV protection. Solar cells are also protected from UV rays and coated with an oil-based film for improved functionality. Now, a Finnish-led research team has hit upon an organic alternative. The team used dye from red-onion peel to coat a film made from nano-fine cellulose fibres and the new protective layer was more effective than...

A thoughtful hiker turned citrus fruits into toilet paper. And, as a Sicilian founder has shown with her biodegradable yarn, oranges can play an additional role in the circular economy. Her juicy thought? Only 40% of the fruit gets used during the juicing process. The rest is rich in cellulose, which, thanks to the startup's patented process, can be...

Illuminated marine bacteria make light sources more sustainable. Now, a startup in Singapore has developed an environmentally-friendly source of electricity. Its rechargeable battery is fully biodegradable (except for the casing) and made from cellulose and water-based electrolytes, betting on zinc and manganese. With a similar lifespan to lithium batteries, manufacturing costs per kWh are around 2 times cheaper. But...