Scientific American
Christopher Intagliata reports.
"I thought, ok, this could be a good resource." Cynthia Kartey of the University of Sheffield... says the needles are 85 percent lignocellulose—a tough woody material. But using heat and cheap solvents, Kartey says she can transform pine needles into a liquid product called "bio-oil," which contains glucose, acetic acid, and phenols. Useful stuff.
"Glucose is used as sweetener in the food industry. Acetic acid is mainly used for the manufacture of paint and adhesives. It is also used for the manufacture of vinegar. So basically the vinegar you use in your home is diluted acetic acid. And phenol is used in the manufacture of certain medicines."
.... although Christmas trees are only available seasonally, she says the same techniques could be used year-round on other agricultural waste, like corn cobs and sugar cane stalks. The goal, she says, is ultimately zero waste.
"It would be an interesting way to decorate your house for Christmas and also get some paint from acetic acid, you could use again to paint your house. To decorate your house once Christmas is over." Which could give a whole new meaning to 'deck the halls.'
Turn Xmas Tree Into Food and Medicine
Pine needles can easily be broken down into sugars, as well as the building blocks of paint, adhesives and medicines.Christopher Intagliata reports.
"Glucose is used as sweetener in the food industry. Acetic acid is mainly used for the manufacture of paint and adhesives. It is also used for the manufacture of vinegar. So basically the vinegar you use in your home is diluted acetic acid. And phenol is used in the manufacture of certain medicines."
.... although Christmas trees are only available seasonally, she says the same techniques could be used year-round on other agricultural waste, like corn cobs and sugar cane stalks. The goal, she says, is ultimately zero waste.
"It would be an interesting way to decorate your house for Christmas and also get some paint from acetic acid, you could use again to paint your house. To decorate your house once Christmas is over." Which could give a whole new meaning to 'deck the halls.'
