Dear Magdelena,

Thank you for your email. Am currently out of the country doing my PhD in material science (Nanocomposites) in National University of Singapore. As such, am unable to do the calculation as i only did modification of the latex using hydrochloric acid and used in composite manufacture as a binder. Its possible to modify the latex and use as a glue, may be this will only work when am back home.

Regards,

Joseph

Dear Magdelena,

Thank you once again for your insight. I have been working with other natural products such as banana pseudostems (mostly used in Africa(Kenya in particular) for craft products).However, i discovered i could extract cellulose from the stem and help in making value added products. Apparently, this is what won me a scholarship in Singapore for my PhD (Materials). With the large plantains in Africa and elsewhere in the world, the products i have developed (biodegradable plastics from cellulose), i believe this iniative can improve livelihoods to our people. The second bioresource we could exploit is the prickly pear cactus, abundant in arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya, encourage people to grow Cochineal ( Dye insect) that feeds on the cactus. If this happens then the art/craft  industry will use this natural product for aesthetics.  Just like people rear the silk worms using mulberry leaves, cochineal insect with prickly pear cactus could come in handy. This dye has been used as food colour for years, think of it Most red (Carmine) coloured food uses E120 series (approved by EU & FDA) but it si basically, Cochineal dyes. The risks  assessment says no significant hazard found . What do you think about this?  Am always open  to colloboration on these two fronts.

I did my first degree in Textile engineering, shifted abit to environmental management (M.A) to help alleviate environmental pollution emanating from textile industries, then pursuing PhD (materials)- Development of natural fibre composites-emphasis banana fibres.

Regards,

Joseph

Dear Magdelena,

Am not sure how this characterization of our cochineal can be done because it was in the course of research work that i found women in the dry areas of Laikipia in Central Kenya doing dyeing of wool with cochineal dyes. They collect the insects from the bush and then dry them, ferment in an acidic media and then dye wool and make great handmade wool products. Kindly go to the link provided to see some of the artwork done by a women self help group. Any red dye  you see in the crafts is cochineal dye.

Joseph

http://www.nanyukispinnersandweavers.org/