Bananas are used in plastics

Research experts from Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland are pioneers in the exploitation and use of new techniques to produce and manufacture banana products from bananas.

The Queen University Center for Polymer Processing Technology (Polymer) participated in a study worth 1 million Euro, called Badana project. This project will develop new methods to combine products from banana plantations on Canary Islands, Spain into the production of molded plastics. In addition to the environmental benefits, the project also adds to the profitability of banana farmers and helps solve the employment problem for the local working population.

Mark Kearns, Director of the Polymer Research and Technology Process Center of Queen's Aerospace Engineering and Engineering University, said that more than 20% of bananas consumed in Europe are produced in islands. Canary, with more than 10 million banana trees grown annually, only on Gran Island in Canary.

He and his colleagues explained the reasons for doing this study as follows: As soon as the fruit is harvested, the rest of the banana tree will become discarded waste. According to experts' estimates, about 25,000 tons of this natural fiber is poured into ravines or drains around the Canary Islands each year, causing serious environmental pollution in this area. Scientists have implemented Badana project to find solutions for this waste problem.

They realized that the natural fibers contained in the plant could be used to produce, spin and turn plastic, materials to create everyday items, such as oil tanks, trash cans. wheels, water containers, traffic helmets, plastic dolls and many other boats. Banana fibers will be processed, processed, processed and mixed with another plastic material. This compound will be sandwiched between two thin, transparent plastic layers with very special texture and properties. Therefore, this project brings a completely new meaning "banana sandwich".

This new technique will help protect nature, bringing significant benefits to the surrounding environment. The researchers said it would help reduce the amount of polyethylene used in the spinning process, opening a new and more sustainable era in the production and molding of flexible plastics.

Research and development of this new project will create more jobs, improve the area of ​​banana cultivation and effectively utilize the banana waste products, bringing significant benefits to the people in region.

Funds for the implementation and implementation of the Badana project are provided by the European Union's 7-country Framework Program.