SINGAPORE: Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, have been converting wasted durian rusks into anti-bacterial gel bandages.
People in Singapore have been consuming around twelve million durians a year. Durians have been made more than fifty per cent of the fruit's husks. These husks have been usually wasted and burned, which contribute to environmental waste.
In this recycling process, after slicing and freeze-drying the fruit rusks, the cellulose powder has been extracted from it and then mixed with glycerol. The mixture becomes soft hydrogel which has been cut into bandage strips.
These organic hydrogel bandages have been able to keep wound areas cooler and moist, which have accelerated healing compared to conventional dressings.
