Excessive personal protection material (PPE) has become a major cause of environmental pollution during epidemics. A Bangladeshi scientist has come forward to solve this. As an alternative to jute polymer and polythene bags, the inventor of the golden bag made of jute has made eco-friendly PPE.
Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation Scientific Adviser. Mubarak Ahmed Khan has taken the initiative to make PPE which is similar to conventional PPE in terms of quality but not toxic. It will mix easily with the soil in a short time. Although the material for making such PPE is ready, the rest is in the early stages.
According to experts, plastic waste used to deal with dangerous epidemics can cause serious damage to the environment. It also has the potential to spread infectious diseases.
Dr. Mubarak said the main components of the PPE he made were cellulose and ketosis from jute fiber. Ketosan is a natural fibrous material made from the hard shell outside the body of fish like crabs, lobsters and shrimps.
He added that jute and shrimp are easily available materials in Bangladesh. Making cellulose and ketosan and preparing biopolymers on the one hand is as environmentally friendly as it is cost effective.
The biodegradable material of PPE, like the golden bag, will protect against cellulose and ketosis Covid-19 and other viruses, the scientist said.
In 2015, Dr. Mubarak invented the ‘jute polymer’ and made bags out of it that looked and acted similarly to polythene bags. However, his invented bag is completely eco-friendly.
Former Director General of the Atomic Energy Research Institute of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. Mubarak said he received approval from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States last week.
"Soon we are going to test this new concept in the children's hospital," he said.
He added that he would also work with ICDDR, B to create security equipment.
A recent study by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) found that in the first month of the lockdown, about 14,000 tonnes of hazardous plastic waste was generated from surgical face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer bottles and polythene bags.
About 11.2 per cent of the waste is surgical masks, 21 per cent are ordinary gloves made of polythene, 20 per cent are surgical gloves, 40.9 per cent are disposable polythene shopping bags and 6.4 per cent are hand sanitizer bottles.
Daily Star