- A research scholar from the Department of Crystal Growth Centre of Anna University, has come up with a biodegradable sanitary napkin that does not have any plastics and can degrade within a month.
- It is made of cellulose derivatives.
- It has turmeric, vettiver and neem and lemon extracts.
- The materials used in this super-thin, less than 3-mm thick napkin absorbs water up to 1700% of its own weight when tested in CIPET as well the university’s own laboratories.
- The raw materials used are naturally occurring polysaccharides and polymers derived from plants.
- Napkins and diapers available in the market contain plastics and take a long time to degrade.
- They contain cellulose pulp that is recycled from waste paper and are bleached with chlorine that emits dioxins.
- They also contain a hydrophobic covering sheet which is made of polypropylene (plastic derivative) that induces skin rashes in most cases.
- Apart from this, a lot of wood pulp is also required for non-gel napkins/diapers.
