HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Plasma breathes new life into plant-based packaging as a plastic alternative
The treatment is designed to reduce water absorption and improve the films’ resistance to moisture without compromising their mechanical performance or structural integrity.
Lobster shells make a powerful comeback as sustainable golf tees
The team developed the lobster-shell-derived tees using a proprietary process that blends powdered lobster shells with other nature-based materials to create a moldable solid composite.
Smart sensor gives peanuts a powerful new defense against fungus
The sensor detects the peanut fungus far earlier than symptoms become visible. This enables timely fungicide treatment and prevents rapid spread and long-term soil contamination.
Plastic waste turned into protein-packed cookies
In a bid to repurpose plastic waste, the team modified yeasts so that plastic and agricultural waste could be converted into edible proteins and flavoring molecules.
New hydrogel packaging offers a freshness check with just a glance
Designed to offer shoppers a visible signal of food spoilage without opening the package, this new material can also reportedly self-repair, thus keeping bacteria out during shipping and handling.
New seaweed-inspired approach removes ocean microplastics regardless of size
According to its developers, the biopolymer mesh cleans microplastics from both saltwater and freshwater, thereby helping to lessen the impact of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems.
Beer-making could help sand filters trap harmful bacteria
The malt spent rootlets biochar (MSRB) material was developed when the team converted the rootlets into biochar via pyrolysis at 850° C.
Waste rice husks transformed into reusable filters that trap toxic dyes
The team converted discarded rice husk into a sponge-like filter that can capture industrial synthetic dyes from textile manufacturing, leather processing, paper production and aquaculture.
Seaweed coating keeps strawberries fresh longer than refrigeration
The seaweed-coated strawberries stayed fresher for longer than refrigerated uncoated berries, thus suggesting the coating could one day reduce produce spoilage and food waste during storage and transport.
Laser detection method could improve counterfeit alcohol screening
The new laser system is capable of detecting toxic methanol present within unopened bottles of alcohol — even through colored glass.
Food waste transformed into membrane with 96.1% greater heat-storage rate, 1,000-cycle lifespan
To develop the membrane, the team blended food-waste-derived biochar, graphene and a phase-change material into a paper membrane appropriate for thermal management and energy recovery ventilation.
Researchers reinvent food packaging with biodegradable oxygen-scavenging plastic
The researchers produced microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from bacterial cellulose grown by fermenting coconut water, then incorporated it into a three-layer PLA film.
Grip what others leave behind
Schmalz is expanding its portfolio with the finger gripper mGrip Basic and the control module SRCU Basic.
Advanced membrane filtration delivers ultra-pure in-line ingredient separation
Using microfiltration and ultrafiltration systems within continuous in-line processing environments allows manufacturers to isolate and concentrate proteins while maintaining steady material flow throughout production.
NORD serves up sweet energy and cost savings for industrial bakeries
Specialized drive technology engineered for the bakery industry maximizes uptime, adheres to strict hygiene rules and significantly reduces total cost of ownership.
Electronic nose technology detects food spoilage, allergens in real time
The new device features 16 microscopic gas sensors, each of which has been created to respond differently to airborne chemical compounds. Altogether, the 16 sensors produce unique response patterns when exposed to different foods.
90-second process upcycles wet coffee grounds into solid fuel
In what may prove an energy-efficient path for converting high-moisture organic waste into valuable fuel and carbon materials, the team devised a way to harness the energy potential of spent coffee grounds.
Smarter tech unlocks more nutrition from staple crops
By better aligning processing conditions with the physical properties of the raw material, modern systems can maintain high throughput while improving the nutritional quality of the final product.
Biodegradable fruit wash removes pesticides, extends freshness
The wash is composed of a mixture of starch nanoparticles, tannic acid and iron. The team explained that it selected starch, which is a plant-based material, because it can form films.
Portable food safety sensor snags Salmonella with virus-coated polymer
The new technology can quickly capture and visualize foodborne bacterial contaminants in tiny fluid samples.