Scientists Invent Reusable, Compostable Jelly ‘Ice Cubes’ That Never Melt
Image via Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis
Scientists at the University of California have created a new cooling cube that—unlike ice—can be reused and will never melt.
Dubbed the ‘jelly ice cubes’, these plastic-free tools are compostable, don’t grow mold, and are able to prevent cross-contamination when shipping fresh food.
“When ice melts, it’s not reusable. We thought we could make a so-called solid ice to serve as a cooling medium and be reusable,” explained Gang Sun, Professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department.
The cubes have a similar texture to gelatin, but are made up of over 90% water. Other components are added to the mixture to stabilize the structure, so it doesn’t “melt” or lose its shape. Interestingly, the compound will change color according to the surrounding temperature.
To make shipping even more hassle-free, the ‘jelly cube’ can be designed and cut into any shape or size, depending on a shipment’s particular needs. It lasts for approximately 13 hours, after which it can be sanitized and re-frozen in the freezer for the next use.
Image via Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis
According to Futurity, the team first came up with the idea after witnessing the amount of ice used at fish-processing plants, and the possible cross-contamination that could occur by the leftover water once the ice melted.
“The amount of ice used by these fish-processing sites is massive. We need to control the pathogens,” remarked Luxin Wang, Associate Professor in the Food Science and Technology Department.
Initial tests have found that the new cooling cubes can hold up to 22 pounds without losing shape, and can be reused about a dozen times. Once it’s no longer in use, it can simply be thrown out together with the trash, requiring no special waste management methods.
Going forward, the scientists hope the alternative ‘ice cubes’ could reduce water consumption in the shipping industry, especially when transporting fresh food.
The team is planning to use recycled agriculture waste or byproduct as the main component for the coolant, allowing the solution to be both convenient and sustainable.
[via Futurity, images via Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis]
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