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Eco-Friendly Polymer for Mercury Cleanup from citrus peel.

Date:Oct 23, 2015

Country: Australia

Plant Name:

    Grapes

    Lemon

    Orange

Residue Name:

    Peels

End Products

Biomaterials

mercury absorbant

Application

  • Environmental Cleanup: Removes mercury from water and soil, aiding in large-scale pollution remediation.
  • Mercury Detection: Serves as a simple tool for detecting mercury contamination in water and food products like fish.

Description

Researchers at Flinders University have developed an affordable, non-toxic polymer made from sulfur and limonene, a compound derived from citrus peel. This sulfur-limonene polysulfide can absorb mercury from water and soil, turning bright yellow when contaminated. The material utilizes abundant industrial waste, offering a cost-effective solution for large-scale environmental cleanup. Its potential applications include mercury detection and pollution remediation in water bodies and food products like fish.

Pathway Description:

The process involves combining limonene, a compound extracted from citrus peel, with industrial waste sulfur to create a sulfur-limonene polysulfide. This polymer is synthesized through a chemical reaction, resulting in a dark red material that turns bright yellow upon absorbing mercury. The polymer can then be used to absorb mercury salts from water and soil. The material is cost-effective due to the abundance of limonene and sulfur, both by-products of other industries.

 

Source: Know More...

Tags: Mercury Cleanup Using Oragnge PeelsMercury DetectionSustainable Remediation

End Products

Biomaterials

mercury absorbant

Feedstock

Types of Feedstock

Secondary agricultural residue

Name

Orange Peel

Form

Liquid form

Commercials

Abundant byproduct of the citrus industry

Logistics

Collected from citrus processing plants; transported to chemical synthesis facilities

Characteristics

Colorless liquid hydrocarbon; gives citrus fruits their odor; widely used in cleaning and cosmetics

Stakeholders

Educational Institution

Flinders University