VOA慢速英语--新加坡科学家将水果残渣制成绷带

Singapore Scientists Turn Fruit Leftovers¹ into Bandages

Scientists at Nanyang Technological² University (NTU) in Singapore have found a new way to handle food waste. They are turning unused durian fruit coverings, or husks, into antibacterial bandages.

The researchers took fibers³ from the fruit's husks after they were cut and dried. Then they mixed the fibers with a liquid called glycerol. This mixture becomes a soft substance called a hydrogel, which is then made into bandages.

The fruit's husks make up more than half of a durian's structure. They are usually thrown away and burned, which adds to environmental waste.

William Chen is director of the food science and technology program at NTU. He said, "In Singapore, we consume about 12 million durians a year, so besides the flesh, we can't do much about the husk and the seeds and this causes environmental pollution."

Chen added that the technology can also turn other food waste, such as soybeans and grains, into hydrogel.

The hydrogel bandages can keep wound areas cooler and more moist than normal bandages which can help speed up healing.

The researchers say using waste materials and yeast⁵ for the antibacterial bandages is less costly⁶ than using normal bandages. The antibacterial substances in those bandages use more costly metallic⁷ compounds like silver or copper⁸.

Fruit seller Tan Eng Chuan said he goes through as much as 1,800 kilograms of durian each day during durian season. He said being able to use the parts of the fruit that are usually thrown away would make enjoying durian, in his words, "more sustainable."

Words in This Story

bandage –n. a covering, such as a strip of cloth, that protects or supports a part of the body that has been hurt

fiber⁴ –n. a thin piece of natural material

consume –v. to eat or drink; to use up

moist –adj. a little wet; not fully⁹ dry

sustainable –adj. able to be used without being used up; able to continue for a long time

1 leftovers   

n.剩余物，残留物，剩菜

参考例句：

• He can do miracles with a few kitchen leftovers.他能用厨房里几样剩饭做出一顿美餐。
• She made supper from leftovers she had thrown together.她用吃剩的食物拼凑成一顿晚饭。

2 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

3 fibers   

光纤( fiber的名词复数 )； （织物的）质地； 纤维，纤维物质

参考例句：

• Thesolution of collagen-PVA was wet spined with the sodium sulfate as coagulant and collagen-PVA composite fibers were prepared. 在此基础上，以硫酸钠为凝固剂，对胶原-PVA共混溶液进行湿法纺丝，制备了胶原-PVA复合纤维。
• Sympathetic fibers are distributed to all regions of the heart. 交感神经纤维分布于心脏的所有部分。

4 fiber   

n.纤维，纤维质

参考例句：

• The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
• The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。

5 yeast   

n.酵母；酵母片；泡沫；v.发酵；起泡沫

参考例句：

• Yeast can be used in making beer and bread.酵母可用于酿啤酒和发面包。
• The yeast began to work.酵母开始发酵。

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

7 metallic   

adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的

参考例句：

• A sharp metallic note coming from the outside frightened me.外面传来尖锐铿锵的声音吓了我一跳。
• He picked up a metallic ring last night.昨夜他捡了一个金属戒指。

8 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

9 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。