Ontario, Canada (CU)_ Apart from being delightful tropical drinks, the most flavorful foods pineapple, vanilla, and sugarcane also have another common aspect. Yes! they have an amazing second life, where they can all be recycled for a beneficial cause.
Pineapple to help eliminate harmful dietary fat
Pineapple leaves emit greenhouse gases when burnt or left in the field following the harvest. To address this issue, the National University of Singapore scientists have discovered a two-in-one technique that recycles the materials as well as improves our health. Accordingly, researchers have dried and ground pineapple leaf fiber to generate a powder that has amazing properties. It has the capacity to absorb fat consumed by humans during a meal. As a result, the researchers have made capsules that can be swallowed and are now attempting to commercialize their discoveries.
Vanilla for bioplastics production
It is generally utilized to flavor ice cream, custard, and rice pudding. Additionally, it is also used to help minimize plastic waste. Researchers at Bowling Green University in Ohio, United States, have used vanillin, the primary component of the bean, to produce bioplastic. The American scientists explain in a paper released recently in the journal Angewandte Chemie that they have succeeded in initiating the material’s breakdown when exposed to light with a wavelength of 300 nm. At this stage, the components are sufficiently stimulated that a chemical reaction is initiated, resulting in the polymer’s breakdown.
Sugarcane as energy source
Bagasse is utilized for making eco-friendly straws. In Mauritius, the fibrous byproduct of sugarcane crushing was substituted for coal in thermal power plants. During the sugarcane harvesting season, this system generates 14 percent of Mauritius’ electricity demand. The government has set a goal that the percentage of renewable energy used to power Mauritius will reach 35 percent by 2025.
