Converting food waste into a sustainable
everyday benefit
Thursday July 19, 2018
Graeme Pearson
Carrot concrete
• Recently Lancaster Uni scientists created super strong concrete
• Created nano platelets out of cellulose from carrots and beet
• Decreased 60kg of cement per m³ of concrete without sacrificing
tensile strength or quality
• Other possible applications are printing inks and drilling fluids
• 10 million tonne of concrete is produced globally per annum
Rice husk moisturiser
Rice is one of the major global crops
Rice husks have proven a global waste issue
Have been burned for energy content in wax
The wax contains a high proportion of C18 fatty acids
Non palm oil stearic sources are now being sought
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Rice + glass = timber + bricks
• A new building product was recently created from rice husks,
ground glass and mycelium fungi
• Low carbon, fire resistant and termite deterrent
• Food waste + industrial waste into lightweight bricks
• 480million metric tonnes of rice; 20% rice husks
• Possible applications are insulation or particle board
Mango surfboard wax
Mango seed is a large proportion of the fruit
Currently presents a problem
Monash has been asked to investigate
The seed contains a high percentage of wax
Suggested as a potential niche application as surfboard wax
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Fast food emulsifiers
Mid 1980’s/early 1990’s considered waste problem
Commercial pressure considerations for export opportunities
An effective and problem solving procedure found
Exported emulsifiers to over seven diverse countries
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But wait there is more….
• Orange oil or D-limonene from waste citrus peel; Roughage
ground from sugar cane waste, bagasse
• Creative thinking
• Understanding the components of the waste
• Apply concepts to current end uses
• Research
Thank you.
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