Singapore Scientists Turn Fruit Leftovers into Bandages
2021-10-03
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1Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have found a new way to handle food waste.
2They are turning unused durian fruit coverings, or husks, into antibacterial bandages.
3The researchers took fibers from the fruit's husks after they were cut and dried.
4Then they mixed the fibers with a liquid called glycerol.
5This mixture becomes a soft substance called a hydrogel, which is then made into bandages.
6The fruit's husks make up more than half of a durian's structure.
7They are usually thrown away and burned, which adds to environmental waste.
8William Chen is director of the food science and technology program at NTU.
9He said, "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."
10Chen added that the technology can also turn other food waste, such as soybeans and grains, into hydrogel.
11The hydrogel bandages can keep wound areas cooler and more moist than normal bandages which can help speed up healing.
12The researchers say using waste materials and yeast for the antibacterial bandages is less costly than using normal bandages.
13The antibacterial substances in those bandages use more costly metallic compounds like silver or copper.
14Fruit seller Tan Eng Chuan said he goes through as much as 1,800 kilograms of durian each day during durian season.
15He said being able to use the parts of the fruit that are usually thrown away would make enjoying durian, in his words, "more sustainable."
16I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have found a new way to handle food waste. They are turning unused durian fruit coverings, or husks, into antibacterial bandages. 2The researchers took fibers from the fruit's husks after they were cut and dried. Then they mixed the fibers with a liquid called glycerol. This mixture becomes a soft substance called a hydrogel, which is then made into bandages. 3The fruit's husks make up more than half of a durian's structure. They are usually thrown away and burned, which adds to environmental waste. 4William Chen is director of the food science and technology program at NTU. He said, "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." 5Chen added that the technology can also turn other food waste, such as soybeans and grains, into hydrogel. 6The hydrogel bandages can keep wound areas cooler and more moist than normal bandages which can help speed up healing. 7The researchers say using waste materials and yeast for the antibacterial bandages is less costly than using normal bandages. The antibacterial substances in those bandages use more costly metallic compounds like silver or copper. 8Fruit seller Tan Eng Chuan said he goes through as much as 1,800 kilograms of durian each day during durian season. He said being able to use the parts of the fruit that are usually thrown away would make enjoying durian, in his words, "more sustainable." 9I'm Jonathan Evans. 10Travis Teo and Lee Ying Shan reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 11____________________________________________ 12Words in This Story 13bandage -n. a covering, such as a strip of cloth, that protects or supports a part of the body that has been hurt 14fiber -n. a thin piece of natural material 15consume -v. to eat or drink; to use up 16moist -adj. a little wet; not fully dry 17sustainable -adj. able to be used without being used up; able to continue for a long time