Young scientist turns avocado seeds into plastic
A DURBAN teenager’s experiment of using avocados to make plastic landed her a spot at an international science fair.
Aditi Sookdhaw, 18, of Reservoir Hills, this week presented her project titled Polymer Bioplastic at the 2021 Virtual Indonesia World Innovative Science Fair.
Aditi, a Grade 12 pupil from Star College and Kyle Dawson from St Stithian’s Boys College were selected by a panel of academics and professionals following successful evaluations at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists Online Assessments in 2020, where they received silver medals.
Aditi found a viable method to make bioplastic from avocado seed extracts.
Her methods involved vigorous and environmentally-friendly testing, and the product compares favourably to other bioplastics in terms of cost, strength and durability.
Aditi said the objective of her project was to aid in fixing the worldwide problem caused by man-made synthetic plastic.
“I found a way to create a new polymer bioplastic using avocado seeds as a main source. The objective of the study is to completely eliminate the use of man-made synthetic plastic due to the numerous problems it has created for mankind and the environment.
“I had to prepare the avocado seeds in multiple ways. Another main source I used was freshly sourced latex. I thereafter conducted 11 experiments and four were successful which was 36%.
“It is a high rate for such a project. I took the four and ran them through a series of procedures like water solubility to see if the samples would suffice to be a polymer bioplastic and in conclusion it was.
“It has proven to have similar properties to plastic. With more modifications and testing, it can prove to be far better than a synthetic plastic,” Aditi said.
This week the young scientists presented their projects via a Zoom session to the public, as well as posted Youtube videos of them presenting the project.
The link was sent to whoever they wanted and got as many viewers and likes.
“Thousands of people tuned in. We also presented to judges during a Q&A session.
“Our achievement is based on the actual judging session,” Aditi said.
The winner will be announced during a virtual ceremony today.
She said that plastics were a problem that needed to be fixed because of the hazardous effects it had in many parts of the world, on people, animals and the environment.
After matriculating she would like to pursue studies in computer engineering or computer science or civil engineering.