Fruit peels can also save lives

Fruit peels can be used as fertilizers to promote environmental awareness around the world. However, this discarded item may soon bring a new higher meaning - saving lives.

Studies at the National University of Singapore have found that tomato and apple peels can be used as a filter for polluted water, when this waste can filter most heavy metals, pesticides and dyes.

For example, the results of the past two years show that the shells of 8 tomatoes in an hour can completely remove heavy metal ions such as lead in 1 liter of water. This result could pave the way for a new, cheaper way to filter clean drinking water for nearly 800 million people worldwide who still have no access to clean water.

Researcher Ramakrishma Mallampati and research work on fruit juice purifiers (Source: Strait Times)

According to researcher Ramakrishna Mallampati, this work is particularly important for people in remote areas where access to water purification equipment is difficult and where industrial groundwater sources are polluted.

He said: 'There are many products currently on the market, but . developing countries cannot afford those expensive technologies.' One of the most popular devices is Lifestraw, one. The straw-shaped individual water filter has a retail price of 25 USD.

However, fruit peels are very readily available all over the world as a waste product during food processing.

The team is currently collaborating with Singapore authorities to test whether the fruit peels can work on a large scale. Test results are expected to be announced next month.