Citrus waste converted to biopolymers using cavitation
The citrus industry generates a substantial amount of waste, primarily peels and seeds, which are often underutilized despite their rich cellulose and pectin content. Conventional pectin and cellulose extraction methods are energy-intensive and gener.....»»
PSA: Recovering Mac storage space may just mean waiting a while
This may be something of an edge case, but as it caused me to waste a considerable amount of time Googling ‘Recovering Mac storage’ before the problem solved itself, I thought I’d share. Having recently completed a 16-minute micro documentar.....»»
Scientists upcycle polyesters through new waste-free, scalable process
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a new chemical process which upcycles polyesters, including PET in plastic bottles, to morpholine amide, a versatile and valuable building block for synthesizing a vast range of compounds......»»
The hunt for a new way to tackle clothing waste
Scientists in the US are trying to find enzymes or bacteria that will decompose manmade fibres......»»
Biodegradable bags not currently recommended for recycling organic waste
Bags made from biodegradable materials for collecting organic household waste have been available on the market for several years. Now researchers in a large-scale pilot study have conducted an extensive investigation into whether these bags fully de.....»»
Machine learning reveals how to dissolve polymeric materials in organic solvents
Dissolving polymers with organic solvents is the essential process in the research and development of polymeric materials, including polymer synthesis, refining, painting, and coating. Now more than ever recycling plastic waste is a particularly impe.....»»
Genetic study of citrus fruits suggests they originated in southern China
A team of horticulturists, genealogists and germplasm specialists affiliated with multiple institutions in China, working with two colleagues from the U.S. and one from Australia, has found evidence that suggests citrus fruits originated in what is n.....»»
Scientists develop model to predict and simulate microplastic transport in South Australian waters
Australia has a big problem with plastic waste, with millions of tons of household and industrial plastics breaking down in landfill, rivers and the sea every year......»»
Turning mine waste into healthy soil
Tailings, the waste left after extracting precious and critical minerals, often contain harmful chemicals and heavy metals that can pollute soil, water, and even crops. There are over 1,800 tailings storage facilities around the world, and in 2019, a.....»»
More than 20-year-old assumption about beer aroma disproved
Hops-derived constituents not only increase shelf-life and bitterness of beer, but can also significantly influence aroma. An important hop odorant is linalool, which has a floral and citrus-like scent......»»
Study shows we can create value from food waste by turning it into a highly desirable material: nanocellulose
Food waste is a global problem with approximately 1.3 billion tons of food wasted each year throughout the food lifecycle—from the farm to food manufacturers and households......»»
Why an unusual global export industry keeps growing in a developing country
The global citrus export industry based in South Africa is a surprising outlier in many ways, not least for its vigorous growth. Somehow, the diverse industry has emerged as the second biggest in the world after Spain......»»
Investigating the role of greener plastics for Japan"s carbon neutral goals
Japan has a plastic problem. Thanks in part to an overabundance of packaging, the country is the second largest producer of plastic waste per capita......»»
A close-up of biological nanomachines: Researchers take a deep look at peroxisomal processes
Every system has its waste disposal system. The cell organelles known as "peroxisomes" dispose of toxic substances and fats in the human body, among other things, and, in doing so, they prevent serious illnesses. The "Pex" group of proteins (peroxiso.....»»
Coatings made from a wood by-product can keep our glasses and windshields clear
Researchers have developed a way to turn a waste material from wood into a bio-based transparent film that can be used for anti-fogging or anti-reflective coatings on glasses or vehicle windows. In addition to offering an alternative to the toxic syn.....»»
Expend4bles review: a colossal waste of time
Expend4bles is an embarrassingly cheap action movie, and one of the worst films of the year so far......»»
Innovative solution for poultry litter waste management uses photocatalytic titanate nanofibers
The shift away from using poultry litter for crop fertilization has transformed this once-valuable agricultural byproduct into an environmental liability for poultry producers. Addressing this challenge, a study led by Dr. Jun Zhu from the University.....»»
Crappy situation: Woman dives into outhouse muck to fetch Apple Watch
After diving in after her lost Apple Watch, a Michigan woman needed a rescue from an outhouse waste repository.Apple WatchStories involving an Apple Watch and a rescue usually feature the technology helping in some way, but not this time. Instead, it.....»»
Realistic analysis of excavation damaged zone trends in an underground research lab in Japan
To ensure the effectiveness of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal facilities, the distribution of hydraulic and mechanical properties within the surrounding rock mass, acting as a natural barrier, should be evaluated......»»
Turning mixed plastic into useful chemicals
Almost 80% of plastic in the waste stream ends up in landfills or accumulates in the environment. Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists have developed a technology that converts a conventionally unrecyclable mixture of plastic waste into useful ch.....»»
Violence against workers increased during the pandemic: Research shows how it affected them
For weeks of lockdown in the UK and beyond, people took part in nightly applause for health care staff and caregivers. Many expressed gratitude for other frontline workers: waste management workers, bus drivers, retail employees and others performing.....»»