Sugar waste can be converted to pharma ingredient

Singapore: Scientists at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, used sunlight to convert a derivative of bagasse, known as furfural, into building blocks for highly valuable pharmaceutical products.

Dr Matthew Bolte, solarchemicals research group, school of pharmacy, JCU, highlighted that his product is 50 to 100 times more valuable than furfural and will help to make the industry more sustainable.

Dr Bolte, while speaking about his work, said that, "It would just seriously increase the diversity of our sugar industry so that there's just another string to their bow. It's another way we can continue to support and bolster our sugar industry and the farmers up here in the north."