repel

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

New York is raising its shoreline

January 18, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Superstorm Sandy in 2012 flooded 17% of New York City and caused $19 billion in damage. In its aftermath, plans emerged to create floodwalls, raised elevations, high-capacity drainage, and other infrastructure to protect the city from future Sandy-like events.

Like all large infrastructure projects in densely populated places, the remaking of New York’s shoreline has only moved along in fits and starts. But there has been significant progress.

The East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project is the largest urban resiliency project currently underway in the United States. The first piece of it – the Asser Levy renovation – was completed in 2022. Over the next three years, the $1.8 billion ESCR will reshape two-and-a-half miles of Lower Manhattan’s shoreline. The ESCR is just one part of a much larger $2.7 billion initiative called the BIG U, which is a series of contiguous flood resilience projects that will create 5.5 miles of new park space specifically designed to protect over 60,000 residents and billions of dollars in real estate against sea level rise and storm surges.

In a time of rising seas and increasingly powerful storms, flood-prone coastal U.S. cities – including Boston, Norfolk, Charleston, Miami, and San Francisco – are moving toward embracing the long-held Dutch concept of “living with water”, which emphasizes infrastructure that can both repel and absorb water while also providing recreational and open space.

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After a Decade of Planning, New York City Is Raising Its Shoreline

Photo, posted November 1, 2012, courtesy of Rachel via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Harnessing The Smell Of Fear | Earth Wise

September 28, 2021 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Plant-eating insects present a major problem for farmers and home gardeners. Aphids, for example, are a highly destructive pest to many crops. Their large numbers and ability to transmit plant pathogens make them a persistent problem for growers.

Pesticides are chemical substances that are commonly used to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate pests. They include insecticides for insects, rodenticides for rodents, herbicides for weeds, and fungicides for microorganisms. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, approximately one billion pounds of these chemicals are used in the United States every year.

But pesticides can also contaminate soil, water, and other vegetation, as well as kill many non-target species. Exposure to these chemicals is dangerous for human health.

According to a new study, researchers from Pennsylvania State University have developed a way to bottle the “smell of fear” produced by predators in order to repel and disrupt pests naturally without the need for these harsh substances. The researchers recently presented their findings at the American Chemical Society meeting.

Aphids happen to be a favorite food of ladybugs. Aphids and other herbivorous insects will steer clear of fields and gardens if they smell predators nearby. The researchers identified and extracted the volatile odor profile from ladybugs. The researchers used the compounds to create a special odor blend that can be used in an essential oil diffuser to spread the scent across a garden or field.

The research team plans to conduct field tests to see if the effects outside are similar to what was observed in the lab. A natural and effective pest repellent would be a big win for people and the planet.

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Protecting gardens and crops from insects using the ‘smell of fear’

Protecting gardens and crops from insects using the ‘smell of fear’ (YouTube)

Photo, posted May 10, 2011, courtesy of DM via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Protecting Fresh Produce | Earth Wise

May 26, 2020 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Fresh fruits and vegetables can sometimes become contaminated by microorganisms during their long journey from fields to restaurants and grocery stores. Contaminated produce can spoil other produce, which increases the number of fruits and vegetables in the supply chain that can cause illnesses.

In order to prevent this cross-contamination between produce, researchers from Texas A&M University have designed a coating that can be applied to food-contact surfaces, like buckets, rollers, and conveyor belts. The newly-created dual-function coating is both water-repellent and germicidal. In other words, it can both repel and kill. Without water, the researchers say bacteria can’t stick or multiply on surfaces, drastically reducing contamination.

To make this dual-function coating, the researchers chemically-attached a thin layer of silica to an aluminum sheet. They then added a mixture of silica and lysozyme, a naturally-occurring germicidal protein found in egg whites and tears. Together, the silica-aluminum and the silica-lysozyme formed microscopic bumps and crevices. According to the research team, this rough texture, albeit microscopic, is the key to the coating’s superhydrophobic properties.

The researchers tested the coating’s effectiveness at curbing the growth of two strains of disease-causing bacteria: Salmonella and Listeria. Upon review, the number of bacteria found on the dual-coating surfaces was 99.99% less than what was found on the uncoated surfaces.

Despite the success in preventing bacterial spread, the research team said more research needs to be done to see how well the coating works for mitigating viral cross-contamination. Since the coating would need to be reapplied after a certain amount of use, the researchers also plan to develop more permanent, dual-function coatings.

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New dual-action coating keeps bacteria from cross-contaminating fresh produce

Photo, posted April 14, 2012, courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.