A team of Bangladeshi researchers have found a way to transform agricultural waste into environment-friendly printing ink, which could reduce Bangladesh’s dependence on imported industrial materials.The country currently imports nearly all its printing ink as its annual domestic market is worth around $245 million; a jute-based ink could reduce production costs by up to 10 times, the study suggests.The innovation also uses a greener production process that recycles hazardous gases generated during biomass pyrolysis.Beyond printing ink, researchers have also developed graphene from jute sticks, raising hopes that Bangladesh could enter the growing global market for nanomaterials.
Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest producer and the top exporter of jute. The “golden fiber” is so abundant here that, in rural regions, piles of dried jute sticks are commonly burned as cooking fuel or used as low-cost fencing.
Scientists have now found a way for this agricultural waste to become an unlikely solution to one of Bangladesh’s overlooked industrial dependencies — imported printing ink.
A Bangladeshi-led research team has developed environmentally friendly ink using submicron carbon particles derived from discarded jute sticks. This is a potential low-cost alternative to imported commercial black ink. The innovation could help Bangladesh reduce import dependence in a market worth millions of dollars annually while creating new economic value from agricultural waste.
