High school student creates alternative to synthetic leather from mushroom waste

In Adana, high school student Fatma Nur Salman has produced bio-leather using waste from kombucha mushrooms.

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High school student creates alternative to synthetic leather from mushroom waste

Salman, a 12th-grade student at Bahtiyar Vahabzade Social Sciences High School, decided to make use of the waste from the kombucha mushrooms her diabetic mother used to make tea.

After conducting research for some time to find a way to utilize this waste, Salman realized that the fibrous kombucha mushroom could be used to create a porous structure.

BIO-LEATHER PRODUCED FROM KOMBUCHA MUSHROOM

With the support of her chemistry teacher, Ayşe Ongun Yüce, Salman determined that this mushroom could be used to obtain leather and prepared a project titled "Bio-leather from Kombucha Mushroom." With the support of the Provincial Directorate of National Education, Salman participated in the International Music, Science, Energy, and Engineering Fair (IMSEF) in Buca, İzmir.

In the competition held as part of the fair, which featured participants from 23 countries, Salman achieved second place in the chemistry category with her project.

Fatma Nur Salman stated that people use kombucha mushrooms for health purposes.

Explaining that her diabetic mother also consumed the tea made from this mushroom and that the waste was being thrown away, Salman noted that her project emerged from the idea of bringing these materials back into the economy.

Salman stated that with the project they developed alongside her advisor teacher, they both utilized waste and achieved second place, adding the following:

"We believe that the product we have developed could be used as an alternative to synthetic leathers in the coming years. We have made use of waste and are not harming the environment. At the same time, we have designed a recyclable product. Since our base material is mushroom fiber, we have obtained a structure that is both breathable and porous."

Salman stated that with the project that earned them second place, they will participate in the International Chemistry Project competition to be held in South Africa, and they aim to return from there with a ranking as well.

News Source: AA