It might not sound glamorous, but cow manure could soon be the unlikely hero of sustainable manufacturing. Scientists have discovered a way to transform cow dung into cellulose, one of the world’s most widely used materials.
“Our initial question was whether it could be possible to extract the tiny fragments of cellulose present in cow manure, which is left over from the plants the animals have eaten, and fashion it into manufacturing-grade cellulose material,” said Mohan Edirisinghe, senior author of the study, in a press release.
This new study, published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, introduces a cleaner, cost-effective method to extract cellulose that could help reduce pollution, support dairy farmers, and change how we think about animal waste.
Cellulose, found naturally in plant cell walls, has been a cornerstone of manufacturing since the 19th century. Once used in photographic film, it’s now found in cling wrap, surgical masks, ...
