oils

An eco-friendly detergent

May 8, 2025 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Household products such as laundry detergents and dishwasher tablets are an indispensable part of everyday life, but such products contain all sorts of chemicals that have undesirable properties. Many are difficult to break down when they enter the environment, and some add nutrients that trigger environmentally harmful algal blooms. The ingredient lists for even what are described as environmentally friendly cleansing products can be filled with lots of polysyllabic chemicals with unknown potential impacts. Detergents made from harmless stuff are often difficult to make, hard to rinse off, and sometimes potentially damaging to fabrics.

Researchers at Tianjin University in China have developed an environmentally friendly detergent made of tiny wood fibers and corn protein that removes stains from clothes and dishes as well as commercial products.

The researchers combined cellulose nanofibers from wood with zein protein, which is taken from corn, to produce an emulsion. The cellulose can attract and repel water and can form emulsions and attract various kinds of stains. The zein protein helps to stabilize the emulsion and trap oils.

They tested the new detergent by cleaning cotton cloth and dishes stained with ink, chili oil, and tomato paste. They compared the results against commercial laundry detergent and dish soap. Their new detergent was somewhat less effective than the commercial products when used at 1% concentration but was more effective when used at a 5% concentration.

The results suggest that this natural detergent could be an efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to the synthetic cleaning agents that currently dominate the market.

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Researchers create eco-friendly detergent from wood fiber and corn protein

Photo, posted July 31, 2009, courtesy of Mei Anne Mendoza via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

RNA Modification For Plants | Earth Wise

September 8, 2021 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

We have heard a lot about RNA this past year as messenger RNA vaccine technology has been used for the first time to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Now RNA-based technology has shown promise to make major contributions to agriculture.

A group of researchers at the University of Chicago and two Chinese universities have announced that manipulating RNA can allow plants to yield dramatically more crops as well as have better drought resistance.

Adding gene encoding for a protein called FTO to both rice and potato plants increased their yield by 50% in initial field tests. The plants were larger, produced longer root systems, and could better tolerate drought conditions. Further analysis showed that the plants had increased their rate of photosynthesis.

FTO protein erases chemical marks on RNA. Specifically, it controls a process known as m6A, which is a key modification of RNA. The FTO erases m6A to reduce some of the signals that tell plants to slow down and reduce growth. Plants modified with the addition of FTO produced significantly more RNA than control plants.

Experiments with both rice plants and potato plants – which are completely unrelated – demonstrated the same results, indicating that the technique could be broadly applicable. (The genetic modification is rather simple to make and has worked with every type of plant the researchers have tried it with so far).

These results are just the beginning but demonstrate the potential of a technology that could help address problems of poverty and food insecurity at a global scale as well as responding to climate change. The world depends on plants for everything from wood, food, and medicine, to flowers and oils. This technique has the potential to dramatically increase the stock material we can get from most plants.

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RNA breakthrough creates crops that can grow 50% more potatoes, rice

Photo, posted September 22, 2014, courtesy of Toshiyuki Imai via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Essential Oils And Organic Crops | Earth Wise

November 6, 2020 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Essential oils are concentrated liquids extracted from plants. They are called “essential” in the sense that they contain the essence of the fragrance that is characteristic of the plant. Essential does not mean indispensable or usable by the human body. But despite that fact, essential oils have been used in folk medicine throughout history.

In recent times, essential oils have frequently been used in aromatherapy. Generally speaking, medicinal uses of essential oils are controversial, and, in some cases, they have even been demonstrated to be dangerous.

Research has shown that essential oils have potential as natural pesticides. Recently, the USDA has funded research into the use of essential oils to battle pests and diseases of organic crops.

U.S. organic food sales topped $50 billion in 2018 and fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops combined make up more than a third of organic sales. In order to meet consumer demand, farmers need ways to battle pests and diseases that often accompany organic crop growth.

A four-year project at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is entitled “Plant Safety, Horticultural Benefits, and Disease Efficacy of Essential Oils for Use in Organically Grown Fruit Crops: From the Farm to the Consumer.” The researchers will work with certified organic producers in Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and California to evaluate the effectiveness of plant essential oils on major fruit pathogens such as avocado scab, anthracnose fungal disease, and powdery mildew on targeted tropical and temperate fruit crops such as avocado, mango, blueberry, and peach.

The goal is increase orchard productivity of the expanding organic fruit industry.

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Essential oils could keep pests, disease from organic crops

Photo, posted January 6, 2015, courtesy of Abi Porter via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.