ORANGE PEELS

Orange peels could be made into biodegradable plastic

Scientists discover a novel way of using microwaves to turn orange peels and other plant-based waste
into plastic.

Plastic waste is one of the worst forms of trash because it takes so long to degrade, thus overflowing our
landfills and polluting our oceans and waterways. But what if we could make plastic from a recycled,
natural, biodegradable source?

That's the idea behind a new technology developed by British scientists that uses microwaves to turn
plant-based waste, such as orange peels, into eco-friendly plastic, according to the Independent.

Researchers have created a partnership with the juice-making industry in Brazil and have launched the
Orange Peel Exploitation Company to demonstrate the technology on a large scale.

"There are 8 million tonnes of orange residue in Brazil. For every orange that's squeezed to make juice,
about half of it is wasted," said James Clark, professor of green chemistry at the University of York and
developer of the new approach. "What we've discovered is that you can release the chemical and
energy potential of orange peel using microwaves."

The technique works by focusing high-powered microwaves on plant-based material, transforming the
tough cellulose molecules of the plant matter into volatile gases. Those gases are then distilled into a
liquid that researchers say can be used to make plastic. The process works at 90 percent efficiency, and
it can be used on a variety of plant waste beyond orange peels.

Orange peels are particularly good for this technique because they are rich in a key chemical, d-
limonene, which is also an ingredient in many cleaning products and cosmetics.

"The unique feature of our microwave is that we work at deliberately low temperatures. We never go
above 200 C. You can take the limonene off or you can turn limonene into other chemicals," he said. "It
works really well with waste paper. It can take a big range of bio-waste material," said Clark.

The environmental benefit of this technology goes beyond developing a more biodegradable plastic. It
also recycles plant waste which is normally discarded. Farmers, factories and power stations that deal
with a lot of excess biomass could be a few of the beneficiaries.

"We are talking to farmers who are already concentrating a lot of biomass for palletizing before going to
power stations about the possibility of locating a facility in one of these centralized units," said Clark.
REPARATION PRELIMINARY STUDY OF BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS BASED
OF CASSAVA COMPOUNDS WITH ADDITIVES LIMONENE EXTRACTION OF
ORANGE LEATHER
Wikanta, Deddy Kurniawan and Arifan, Fahmi and Izzah, Nailul (2012) PREPARATION PRELIMINARY STUDY
OF BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS BASED OF CASSAVA COMPOUNDS WITH ADDITIVES LIMONENE
EXTRACTION OF ORANGE LEATHER. The 2nd International Seminar on New Paradigm and Innovation on
Natural Sciences and its Application, 2 (2). p. 78. ISSN ISBN : 978-602-18940-0-2

Abstract

Biodegradable plastic is a plastic material that is environmentally friendly because it is able to return to nature.
In general, biodegradable packaging films is defined as packaging that is recyclable and can be destroyed by
nature. Cassava starch can be an alternative biodegradable plastic raw materials. The manufacturing process
is similar to the process of making plastics with the raw material of synthetic polymers. Biodegradable plastics
are new breakthroughs to deliver maximum results, with the base material of cassava and the addition
compound limonene, the thickness of relatively thin plastic, the stronger the attraction, elasticity longer. The
purpose of this study was to determine the optimum conditions to produce biodegradable plastics with the
compound limonene (additive) from the extraction of orange peel. Research conducted through three stages:
(1) extraction of orange peel, (2) extraction of cassava starch, and (3) the manufacture of biodegradable
plastics. Variable is an experiment conducted on susceptible starch concentration of 4-6% and 5-7%
concentration of sorbitol. While the cooking temperature between 70-80oC and the addition of an additive
compound of orange peel extract as much as 15%. Of research can be seen that the concentration of cassava
starch, sorbitol concentration and the concentration of limonene compounds influencing parameters tested.
Percent extension treatment with the highest concentrations found in cassava starch 6%, 7% sorbitol
concentration, and concentration of the compound limonene 15%. Relatively good condition or optimum in the
manufacture of biodegradable plastics at 80 oC. Keywords: biodegradable plastic, cassava starch, limonene,
orange peel
Removal of dyes from colored textile wastewater by orange peel adsorbent: Equilibrium and kinetic
studies

Abstract

The use of low-cost and ecofriendly adsorbents has been investigated as an ideal alternative to the
current expensive methods of removing dyes from wastewater. Orange peel was collected from the
fields of orange trees in the north of Iran and converted into a low-cost adsorbent. This paper deals with
the removal of textile dyes from aqueous solutions by orange peel. Direct Red 23 (DR23) and Direct Red
80 (DR80) were used as model compounds. The adsorption capacity Q0 was 10.72 and 21.05 mg/g at
initial pH 2. The effects of initial dye concentration (50, 75, 100, 125 mg/l), pH, mixing rate, contact time,
and quantity of orange peel have been studied at 25C. The Langmuir and Freundlich models were used
for this study. It was found that the experimental results show that the Langmuir equation fit better
than the Freundlich equation. The results indicate that acidic pH supported the adsorption of both dyes
on the adsorbent. Orange peel with concentrations of 8 and 4 g/l has shown adsorption efficiencies of
about 92 and 91% for DR23 and DR80, respectively. Furthermore, adsorption kinetics of both dyes was
studied and the rates of sorption were found to conform to pseudo-second-order kinetics with a good
correlation (R0.998). Maximum desorption of 97.7% for DR23 and 93% for DR80 were achieved in
aqueous solution at pH 2. Finally, the effect of adsorbent surface was analyzed by scanning electron
microscope (SEM). SEM images showed reasonable agreement with adsorption measurements.

SNAKE PLANT

The group conducts a study to make a less expensive and a new alternative way in making eco paper
bags. The group thought a way on how they can use the snake plant in order to make an alternative
paper sheets.

III. Related Literature

Wikianswer

(2013) stated that eco-friendly bags are a great alternative to disposable plastic bags. Each year billions
of plastic bags end up as ugly litter. Eco friendly bags rarely end up as litter. Plastic bags eventually break
down into tiny toxic bit polluting our soil, river, lakes, and oceans. Eco Friendly bags are not only
reusable, but eco-friendly bags are made from recycled materials.

IV. Statement of the Problem

The research study was conducted to examine the potential of Snake Plant as an alternative source of
fiber in making paper for the commercial branded one.

Variables
As an action, some cities and municipalities of Laguna implemented new law that forbidden the use of
plastics in their places. Together with this act, paper bags and eco bags will now replace plastic bags in
different establishments like supermarket /groceries and fast-food restaurants.

Eco friendly bags, an environmentally-friendly reusable bag made from cloth or recycled plastic, are a
great alternative to disposable plastic bags. Each year billions of plastic bags end up as ugly litter. Eco
friendly bags rarely end up as litter. Plastic bags eventually break down into tiny toxic bit polluting our
soil, river, lakes, and oceans. Eco Friendly bags are not only reusable, but bags which are made from
biodegradable/recycled materials.

Because of the increasing demand of eco bags, the group decided to search for a new alternative way of
producing eco paper bags using Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake Plant or mother-in-law's tongue) by
extracting its fiber.

Snake plant paper is made from fibers extracted from snake plant. The long sinuous fibers are formed
into a paper that is highly distinctive. This type of paper refers to as eco paper because the paper uses
fibers that go into the waste system and also this paper is extremely textured and makes an interesting
addition to stamping and scrap booking projects. As of now, Snake Plant paper is not yet available in the
market.

According to wikipedia.org (2012), Sansevieria trifasciata, also called snake plant or mother-in-law's
tongue, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from
Nigeria east to the Congo.

According to M. Kanimozhi (2011), Worldwide there are more than 12 Sansevieria species present in
different continents. The common species are S. cylindrical and S. trifasciata.(...)S.trifisciata fibers shows
that fiber has good strength, fineness with low elongation.

Herald-Tribune Magazine said that Sansevieria fiber has long been used by natives in the tropics and
subtropics for ropes and twines.

Wikianswer
(2013) stated that eco-friendly bags are a great alternative to disposable plastic bags. Each year billions of
plastic bags end up as ugly litter. Eco friendly bags rarely end up as litter. Plastic bags eventually break
down into tiny toxic bit polluting our soil, river, lakes, and oceans. Eco Friendly bags are not only
reusable, but eco-friendly bags are made from recycled materials.
IV. Statement of the Problem
The research study was conducted to examine the potential of Snake Plant as an alternative source of fiber
in making paper for the commercial branded one.
Variables

As an action, some cities and municipalities of Laguna implemented new law that forbidden the use of
plastics in their places. Together with this act, paper bags and eco bags will now replace plastic bags in
different establishments like supermarket /groceries and fast-food restaurants.
Eco friendly bags, an environmentally-friendly reusable bag made from cloth or recycled plastic, are a
great alternative to disposable plastic bags. Each year billions of plastic bags end up as ugly litter. Eco
friendly bags rarely end up as litter. Plastic bags eventually break down into tiny toxic bit polluting our
soil, river, lakes, and oceans. Eco Friendly bags are not only reusable, but bags which are made from
biodegradable/recycled materials.
Because of the increasing demand of eco bags, the group decided to search for a new alternative way of
producing eco paper bags using Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake Plant or mother-in-law's tongue) by
extracting its fiber.
Snake plant paper is made from fibers extracted from snake plant. The long sinuous fibers are formed into
a paper that is highly distinctive. This type of paper refers to as eco paper because the paper uses fibers
that go into the waste system and also this paper is extremely textured and makes an interesting addition
to stamping and scrap booking projects. As of now, Snake Plant paper is not yet available in the market.
According to wikipedia.org (2012), Sansevieria trifasciata, also called snake plant or mother-in-law's
tongue, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from
Nigeria east to the Congo.
According to M. Kanimozhi (2011), Worldwide there are more than 12 Sansevieria species present in
different continents. The common species are S. cylindrical and S. trifasciata.(...)S.trifisciata fibers shows
that fiber has good strength, fineness with low elongation.
Herald-Tribune Magazine said that Sansevieria fiber has long been used by natives in the tropics and
subtropics for ropes and twines.

Extraction of Fiber from Sansevieria Trifasciata Plant and its Properties

Abstract: Textile industry today is known to be the biggest polluter of environment resulting in
ecological imbalance and depletion of resources. Due to technological advancements, ever increasing
consumerism and fast fashion, these crises like situations have become a potential threat to humanity as
such. Fashion Consumers all over the globe are practicing a 'use and throw' attitude resulting in textile
waste choking up landfills. Feeling concerned, the governments have begun launching programs on
environmental awareness; International business houses are being asked to observe strict legislations
and undergo environmental audits. In the scenario, use of natural fibers and enzymes for textile
processing is being encouraged. Possibility of discovering certain non-conventional sources for natural
fibers is being explored. Sansevieria Trifasciata fiber is one such lignocellulosic fiber that has likelihood
for use in textile industry. It can be extracted from the leaves of Sansevieria Trifasciata Plant by various
methods, one of them being water retting. In this study the extracted fiber was examined for its
diameter, fineness, tensile strength and elongation in the laboratory of Northern India Textile Research
Association as indicated in ASTM. The diameter of the fiber was found to be 50.76 microns with a
fineness of 19.45 denier. The tensile strength and elongation of the fiber were found to be 5.97
gm/denier and 3.27 %. There is a possibility of favorably enhancing these properties through various
techniques of mixing and green application processes.