Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Life
  • Health
  • Environment
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion
  • Science
  • Religion
  • History
  • Feature
  • Expat Corner

Husks of former selves: Scientists turn fruit husks into bandages

by Reuters

Sep 20, 2021 - 11:45 am GMT+3
Durian husk and petri dish containing cellulose hydrogel sheet made out of durian husk with yeast phenolics are seen in Singapore, Sept. 16, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
Durian husk and petri dish containing cellulose hydrogel sheet made out of durian husk with yeast phenolics are seen in Singapore, Sept. 16, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
by Reuters Sep 20, 2021 11:45 am
RECOMMENDED
UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi arrives for a news conference at the Museum of the Future in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, on Feb. 2, 2023. (AFP Photo)

Emirati 'Sultan of Space' mulls fasting on ISS during Ramadan

International-Space-Station

Food waste is an increasingly significant issue around the world and tackling it is not always as easy. Many probable, and some intriguing, solutions have been tabled over the years, and one particular case by scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore piques the curiosity: Turning discarded durian husks into antibacterial gel bandages.

The process extracts cellulose powder from the fruit's husks after they are sliced and freeze-dried, then mixes it with glycerol. This mixture becomes a soft hydrogel, which is then cut into bandage strips.

"In Singapore, we consume about 12 million durians a year, so besides the flesh, we can't do much about the husk and the seeds, and this causes environmental pollution," said professor William Chen, director of the food science and technology program at NTU.

The fruit's husks, which make up more than half of the composition of durians, are usually discarded and incinerated, contributing to environmental waste.

Petri dish containing different steps and procedures by Nanyang Technology University (NTU) to turn durian husks into antimicrobial bandages, in Singapore, Sept. 16, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
A researcher holds a hydrogel sheet made out of durian husk with yeast phenolics in Singapore, Sept. 16, 2021. (Reuters Photo)

Chen added that the technology can also turn other food waste, such as soy beans and spent grains, into hydrogel, helping limit the country's food waste.

Compared to conventional bandages, the organo-hydrogel bandages are also able to keep wound areas cooler and moist, which can help accelerate healing.

The researchers say using waste materials and yeast for the antimicrobial bandages is more cost effective than the production of conventional bandages, whose antimicrobial properties come from more expensive metallic compounds like silver or copper ions.

A durian wholesaler, Tan Eng Chuan, said he goes through at least 30 crates of durians a day during durian season – nearly two tons.

Being able to use the parts of the fruit that are ordinarily discarded, he said, is an innovation that will make enjoying it "more sustainable."

RECOMMENDED
UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi arrives for a news conference at the Museum of the Future in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, on Feb. 2, 2023. (AFP Photo)

Emirati 'Sultan of Space' mulls fasting on ISS during Ramadan

International-Space-Station
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Sep 20, 2021 1:02 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    food waste recycling waste sustainability durian fruit science
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    A Turkish police officer stands guard in front of the closed Dutch Consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye, Feb. 1, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

    Türkiye angered over 'intentional' closure of foreign missions

    türkiye-eu-relations
    A Kangal dog and a lamb are seen in Elazığ, eastern Türkiye, Feb. 3, 2023. (IHA Photo)

    Turkish Kangal dog embraces role of mother to lamb

    KANGAL-DOG

    Over 200 flights cancelled in Istanbul due to expected snowstorm

    snowstorm

    'All of Ukraine will burn' due to US supplies: Russia's Medvedev

    Russian-invasion-of-Ukraine
    1. United States
    Military might: The world's 30 strongest armies
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021