Two material scientists from the University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science have discovered a way to make an edible ‘cement’ from discarded fruit and vegetable scraps.
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University of Tokyo last year, when researchers Kota Machida and Yuya Sakai made cement out of food waste. Food waste has been used as a filler in cement alternatives before, but Machida and Sakai developed the world’s first process for cement made entirely from food waste.
The cement-like product is made with a heat pressing technique that is normally used to turn wood powder into construction materials.
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The researchers took “pulverised food scraps” including seaweed, orange, onion, cabbage leaves, banana peels and pumpkin and mixed their powders with water and seasonings. The mixture was then pressed into a mold at a high temperature to set it.
Cabbage turned out to be the best vegetable, the material turned out to be almost four times stronger than cement.
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The material is strong, resistant to fungus, rot and insects and is also completely biodegradable. it can be planted in the ground once it is not needed.
Credit : https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/fac/senshin/mat.html