2Andalusian researchers have used skin cutin tomatoes to create a biodegradable material that involves replacing the inside of the cans and beverage.

A team of scientists from the Institute of Materials Science of Seville (CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla) and Malaga University have developed a new material, from tomato skin, intended to coat the inside of cans.

According to researchers, It is an alternative that allows replace organic material normally envelops the interior of such containers to prevent contact with the food or beverage.

This new coating, besides being environmentally friendly, It maintains its properties in durability or resistance. Experts have demonstrated the efficacy of this new material both of soda or beer cans and food containers.

In the study, published in the journal Journal of Applied Polymer Science, the team summarizes how has developed a biodegradable material from plant cutin, a polymer derived from tomato skin and allows coating the interior of all types of containers for preserving foodstuffs or beverages.

"We look at the tomato because their skin has the same properties that require this type of product. I.e., it is very strong and does not melt, so that it can withstand the sterilizing treatments that these cans are normally applied ", explains project leader, José Jesús Benítez.

[quote]Tomato skin is very durable and does not melt, so it supports sterilizers treatments applied to the cans.[/quote]

In this way, experts have demonstrated the efficacy of this new material both of soda or beer cans and food containers. "We can use it to package beverages, usually consumed in short periods of time, or to preserve food, as it may be several years until they reach the consumer ", exposes Benitez.

"Before deciding to focus on tomato, We check that is a very abundant in Andalusia product and that its skin is not melted, It does not dissolve and is stable and homogeneous ", says Benitez. "We draw your skin and, using laboratory techniques, We obtain a particular polyester chemically identical to known plant cutin the plant used as a skeleton of its external tissues to join components and that is the key element forming the new product ".

Experts developed and patented, First of all, the new material. Once developed, from plant cutin, experts proved its efficiency on identical to applying the metal sheets commonly used in packaging.

"By last, in the laboratory of the Institute of Materials Science of Seville, We demonstrate their utility as protective material and both inner coating cans short (aluminum plate) packaging and more durable (steel and zinc alloy)”, the researcher.

Besides being used as a coating for all types of containers, This studio, which reflects the experience of more than a decade of research on biodegradable components, It has also allowed to employ experts plant cutin as recyclable packaging material and ecological.

"Equally, We have demonstrated their ability when making bags or bottles that can be used on a daily basis and used as fertilizer arrival time discarding ", Benitez says.

These dates, according to experts, They have allowed open new research with the aim of further study of new organic materials from different types of fruit. "We worked on the idea of ​​improving and mechanically perfect the product, i.e., using additives of vegetable origin to its most durable structure ", Benitez concluded.