Cellulose from manure
In An innovative project has appeared in the Netherlands, which is engaged in the extraction of cellulose from cow manure. The finished raw materials are supposed to be used for the production of fabrics. Artist and entrepreneur Jalila Essaidi (Jalila Essaïdi) has created a startup Mestic which involves 15 farmers from Eindhoven. This year, the project participants plan to launch a manure processing plant.
The production technology consists of several stages: first, the dry and wet fractions of raw materials are separated, after which cellulose is extracted from the second fraction, which is nothing more than grass and corn that cows eat.
Scientists believe that cellulose obtained from manure has more high-tech potential, allowing the production of thinner materials.
This year, the Mestic project has already received awards for its innovations, including $200,000 from theChivas Venture and theH&M Foundation Global Change Award, awarded for the best ideas on waste-free production in the fashion industry.
Experts note that if the project is introduced to the masses, fashion brands will most likely not indicate the origin of raw materials for the manufacture of clothing on labels.We perceive manure as waste, as something disgusting and smelly.But oil (which is used to make fiber) is also not clean and beautiful at first. It is necessary to show people the hidden beauty by processing this cellulose, comments Jalila Essaidi.
She believes that in the future, the processing of cow manure into cellulose fiber, bioplastics, chemical concentrates and clean water will become commonplace. And we need to become less squeamish in this regard.
Photo:social networks, shutterstock
