Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker).

As we provide the news for free, we are relying on revenues from our banners. So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.
Thanks!

Click here for a guide on disabling your adblocker.

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber
NUS engineers

Turning pineapple leaves into aerogels for food preservation and wastewater treatment

Although pineapples are rich in vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants, and are considered one of the most important fruits in the world, the harvesting of this delicious and healthy fruit results in tons of pineapple leaves waste. Left to rot or burning it, this waste can release harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases that can cause serious environmental problems.

Therefore, NUS researchers have devised a simple and low-cost method of using pineapple leaf fibres to create ultra-light, biodegradable aerogels. When coated with specific chemicals, these biodegradable aerogels that can be used to keep fruits and vegetables for a longer period, and to remove toxic metals from wastewater, among a wide range of other applications.

According to an article on miragenews.com¸ these eco-aerogels can be reused, further reducing waste and improving sustainability. They can also be safely disposed into the environment without causing pollution.

Publication date: