Indian Scientists

Indian scientists have developed a revolutionary product to extend the freshness of fruits. The wrappers made from graphene will extend the shelf life of fruits. The composite papers made from carbon or graphene oxide are full of preservatives that are helpful in the preservation of fruits for a significantly longer time. Indian scientists have made many genius inventions, and these wrappers are one of them. This invention of carbon-based paper is to rid the fruits from being loaded with harmful preservatives- these composite papers will save the fruits from toxins and help reduce the usage of single-use plastic since these wrappers are reusable.

New technology

More than fifty per cent of fruits are wasted because they are easily spoiled, but with this new technology, we can save them for an extended period. 

The fruits are very decayable things and don’t last as long without preservatives; in the current technology, fruits are being dipped in preservatives, which ends up being harmful to the health. This new technology developed by Indian scientists is a super saver; the composite paper made up of carbon is filled with preservatives. Instead of making the fruits loaded with toxins, the paper will coat only the outer layers of the fruit. It will help save them from getting rotten very easily.

Working of carbon-based papers

At first, the carbon-based papers or graphene oxide loaded molecules are filled with preservatives, and then those molecules, which are full of preservatives, are cast into the wrappers. These wrappers are wrapped in the fruits. When the fruits are being attacked with pathogens and before beginning to rot, the oxalic acid will trigger the preservatives present in the paper to protect the fruits from perishing. In this way, the papers will release preservatives only when needed and will be reusable in case the preservatives were not triggered at all before consumption.

These composite papers made up of carbon are the genius of the research team led by doctor P.S. Vijayakumar of Mohali’s Institute of Nano Science and technology; the institute is an autonomous institute. The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Government of India, and The Institute of Nano Science and Technology began their search for an alternative to injecting preservatives into the fruits made from waste materials to help the environment.

Who can take advantage of these wrappers?

These carbon-based graphene oxide papers will be instrumental in benefiting the farmers and the food industry as it increases the shelf life of fruits on a larger scale. These papers, developed by brilliant Indian scientists, will also help consumers avoid preservative-laden fruits that harm the general public’s health, especially the elders and kids. These wrappers will also help in biomass consumption since these graphene oxide laden wrappers only require the carbon produced from biomass heating.

How were the wrappers developed?

Indian scientists developed these reusable and non-toxic wrappers by allowing the carbon matrix to incubate with the preservatives for the full day or twenty-four hours. When it was incubated, after twenty-four hours, the almost done wrappers were then washed in a solution to remove excess preservatives. Then finally, they cast the carbon and preservatives into the papers.

Doctor P. S. Vijayakumar said, “Already waste-derived carbon materials are known to harbour huge amounts of organic molecule loading, hence the preservative loaded carbon has been prepared and cast into paper for the fruit preservation. Increasing the capacity of carbon to hold organic molecules helped us to develop this product.” 

Conclusion

Indian scientists have developed paper made up of carbon. The production of these graphene oxide-based wrappers is of great help to the consumers because it will prevent them from consuming the toxic fruits loaded with preservatives. The reusable and non-toxic wrappers will help consumers extend the shelf life of fruits and help biomass consumption. The brilliant development is helpful to consumers and the farmers of all around the globe and the booming food industry that sees the wastage of so many fruits because of the issue of fruits not lasting longer