Mexico.
Taking advantage of grapefruit waste and recycling discarded polystyrene (unicel), a group of students managed to develop paints and inks.
The students José Luis Sandoval Valencia, Kimberly Colli Ordaz and Juan Martin Reyna Castillo, advised by their professor Marco Antonio Ayala Pacheco, from the Higher Technological Institute of Apatzingán, Michoacán (ITSA) are the developers of this research.
They assure that in the region known as Tierra Caliente, in which Apatzingán is located, various citrus fruits are produced, where there is a waste per season of approximately 40 tons of grapefruit.
The students discovered that grapefruit oil contains terpenes, ketones, and other organic components that allow polystyrene (unicel) to dissolve in it.
Then they carried out the necessary laboratory tests to use the oil of this fruit as an organic solvent in which they dissolve discarded polystyrene with which they obtain a plastic base to which they add a pigment, from which they obtain inks and paints.
Experts indicate that grapefruit oil as an organic solvent has the advantage of better handling for those who produce it, as its creators say, "conventional paints use solvents derived from petroleum (xylene, diesel, thiner, toluene, etc.) which have a high degree of volatility, are extremely flammable which makes them dangerous and highly polluting".
In addition, grapefruit oil is cheaper, which would positively impact the price of inks and paints.
The students say that they have not received offers with companies for the commercialization of the product, but they are available to talk about the subject. The product is currently in the process of Intellectual Property before the Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property. To date, they already have a search for anticipation that guarantees their innovation.
Source: www.vanguardia.com.mx
