Eco-friendly polythene made from banana plant fibers by little scientist
Sajjadul Islam, a farmer’s son who is also a student of class 11 in the science department of Srimangal Government College, Moulvibazar, Bangladesh, has discovered a formula for creating eco-friendly products from banana tree fibers that can be used as alternatives to plastic, carbon and silicon products.
At the same time compostable polythene is made from the white matter of rotten or unused vegetables. He claims it is eco-friendly and quite affordable.
Sazzadul Islam said, not only tiles but with the raw materials he discovered, it is possible to use banana fiber as an alternative to plastic furniture made of plastic, carbon and silicon, tin, tiles and car parts made of carbon.
It is even possible to make bullet groove doors and windows. The raw material he discovered is 65 percent banana fiber and 35 percent chemicals.
He said that the plastic products he discovered can be easily separated from chemicals and banana fibers by melting them at high heat. And polyethylene made from vegetable waste will decompose in 1 month in soil and 3 months in water. Which will be organic fertilizer for soil and fish food for water.
Hriday Kumar Bhowmik, a lecturer in the chemistry department of Srimangal Government College, said that the 11th class students of their college, Sajjadul Kalagache, showed the use of cellulose-rich fiber hydroxide and resin in making tiles and making polythene from potato starch.
Later, when we invited him to demonstrate this in the college lab, he produced these two products. The raw materials used by him are in harmony with the balance of the environment. This may be a good discovery in further research.
Roman Mia, a lecturer in the Department of Botany in the college, said that since its main raw material is collected from the banana plant and the banana plant is readily available, its use will reduce the use of glass fiber and carbon fiber. And the polythene he discovered will reduce the impact of non-degradable polythene on the environment.
Sazzadul Islam said that the weight of the tiles made by him is 300 grams. Out of which 200 grams of banana fiber and 60 grams of hydroxide and 40 grams of resin. Using resin over time prevents it from rotting, and the hydroxide makes the resin stronger.
To create eco-friendly polyethylene, he combines bleach, acetic acid, and glycerol obtained from leftover vegetables in the market. The solution consists of 25% glycerol, 25% acetic acid, and 25/30% water, with the remaining portion being vegetable bleach.
Sazzadul was chosen as the top talent of the year in the 2024 ‘Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search Competition’ at the district level in Moulvibazar. He said that he will be able to take his research further if he gets government sponsorship.
Nazrul Islam, Sajjadul’s father, made a statement, “He is a farmer. It is not possible for his father to run his research expenses. So, his enthusiasm for this work is not moving forward due to economic reasons.”
If this talented young scientist receives sponsorship from the government or any kind-hearted person or institution, his teachers believe he will make a positive discovery.
