Nipate
Forum => Kenya Discussion => Topic started by: RV Pundit on August 29, 2015, 09:29:20 AM
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http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Western-Kenya-Sugarcane-Farming/-/440808/2850410/-/eraof5/-/index.html
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How resilient is sugar cane? If it was insect treated and waterproof coated, hollowed out, could it function like a PVC type conduit?
(http://2.wlimg.com/product_images/bc-full/dir_67/1999320/pvc-conduit-pipe-1252767.jpg)
(http://www.goafricafund.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/IMG_3656.jpg)
It has the distinct advantage of insulation already... I think I found a cheap alternative to PVC piping... organic piping.
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Omg, the thing is already waterproof !
Researchers Develop Recyclable, Sugarcane-Based Waterproof Coating
GreenerDesign Staff
Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 5:00pm
Biotechnologists working to add value to the Australia sugarcane industry have developed a process for turning sugarcane waste into a recyclable waterproof coating for paper and cardboard.
Typical methods for waterproofing paper-based materials, like boxes for transporting fruits and vegetables, use petroleum-based wax, creating boxes that can't be recycled.
Researchers at the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology say they've found a way to make waterproofing from materials that are currently being burned.
Bagasse, the material leftover after juice has been crushed out of sugarcane, is made of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. Most sugarcane mills burn bagasse to provide heat and electricity.
Peter Twine, CEO of the CRC, said that to create cellulosic ethanol fuel from bagasse, the lignin must be removed, and current separation methods produce lignin that isn't suitable for waterproofing. Researchers at the CRC, though, have developed a method that extracts cellulose and uses new fermentation technology that produces lignin suitable for making waterproof materials.
"The true value of this technology will be realized when it is adopted in the marketplace," Twine said. "We would be willing to talk to others interested in markets for this type of technology and product properties."
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/08/14/researchers-develop-recyclable-sugarcane-based-waterproof-coating
http://www.crcsugar.com/
World’s first waterproof paper
15 August, 2008 0 comments
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World’s first waterproof paper
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In a world first, a group of Brisbane biotechnologists have invented a way to utilise the cellulose in unused sugarcane plant material to produce waterproof papers and industrial cardboards.
Principal researchers and biotechnologists, Dr Les Edye and Dr Bill Doherty, made their discovery while working for the Cooperative Research Centre for Sugarcane Innovation through Biotechnology (CRC SIIB).
The CRC SIIB, based at the University of Queensland, St. Lucia, was formed in 2003 to add new value to Australia’s sugarcane industry — and adding new value to sugarcane is exactly what this invention could potentially do,
The scientists have been working for the CRC SIIB in the area of bio-refining — an offshoot of biotechnology, which helps identify down-stream product opportunities, or new manufacturing potential, based on knowledge available to scientists working on sugarcane.
According to Dr Doherty, the untapped/'green' potential of sugarcane's biomass is enormous and extremely exciting for the Aussie sugarcane industry.
"Our work is revealing how we may actually use more of the entire sugarcane plant, millions of tonnes of unused plant matter (or biomass), for future manufacturing and energy production of which waterproof cardboard might provide just one very promising commercial option," Dr Doherty said.
"The CRC process requires the extraction of cellulose (taken from the cane biomass) and then combined with new fermentation technology to make a type of lignin that would form the basis of a waterproof coating for a variety of papers.
"Our process would potentially allow sugarcane growers and mills to team up with paper manufacturers to produce an internationally sought-after waterproof and biodegradable products — waterproof cardboard boxes and containers, waterproof paper bill-boards, even waterproof paper tarpaulins for emergency relief — all made from natural materials and all 100% recyclable and environmentally friendly.
"Across the globe, food and beverage manufacturers are dependent on paper based packaging and cardboard to store and transport their goods safely to the consumer. Today, the only available technology to manufacturers is cardboard coated with a petroleum-based wax which renders the packaging non-recyclable or petroleum based plastics. Fully recyclable, waterproof paper board could reduce billions of tonnes of landfill around the world.”
http://www.foodmag.com.au/news/world-s-first-waterproof-paper
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QUT sounds awfully familiar... hmm.... where have I heard this uni before...
http://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/dohertyw/
http://staff.qut.edu.au/staff/edye/
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Veritas, that sound interesting.
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I'm buying some sugarcane tomorrow to compare with conduits.
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Spent all day looking for sugar cane sticks. How can Australia be the number 1 exporter of cane sugar in the world and be sold nowhere in this urban jungle ?
http://www.canegrowers.com.au/page/Industry_Centre/industry-focus/about-the-industry/
I went to my local fruit shop and the sales clerk was like... you mean sugar ? She took me to an aisle with sugar bags. I go to a nursery- in a hushed tone the old lady informed me it was a commercial commodity and I couldn't purchase it. I recall these sugar sticks were everywhere in Kenya. Here it's proving to be impossible. I'm going to have take a long drive to a sugar cane farm with my hacksaw in the middle of the night and pinch a couple.