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INTRODUCTIONBanana is a fast growing and high biomass-yielding plant. India is the largest producer of banana next to mango. The major banana producing states are Maharashtra, kerela, Tamilnadu, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. They are cultivated primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent to make fiber and as ornamental plants. Previous NextEnd

The fruit averages 125grams (0.28lb), of which approximately 75% is water and 25% dry matter. Each individual fruit (known as a banana or 'finger') has a protective outer layer (a peel or skin) with a fleshy, edible inner portion. Both skin and inner part can be eaten raw or cooked.

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About 90% of banana produced is consumed domestically as fresh fruit. 5% - processed, About 2.5% is only processed purely as banana products and the rest as an ingredient in other foods. About 17 varieties of products could be made from banana. The primary product of banana in market is fried chips and candy which constitute around 31 %, rest as banana puree 9%, banana pulp 3%, banana beer 3%, banana wafers 3%, banana powder 6% and others Previous NextEnd

The government of India has set up a separate full-fledged ministry named Ministry of Food Processing Industries for the development and promotion of food processing industries.FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRYBanana pseudostem productsTender banana stem is generally used as a vegetable and has high medicinal values. Sweet candy is prepared from tender banana pseudostem. Previous NextEnd

Sweet candy Ingredients neededBanana (tender) stem slices- 500g, Sugar- 1500g, Citric acid- 3gPotassium meta bi sulphite- 0.5g.MethodTender fresh banana stem is sliced (4mm thick) and soaked in 0.25 per cent citric acid solution to prevent browning (1:2 ratio).The slices are softened by pressure cooking for 20 minutes and again soaked in solution containing 0.25 per cent citric acid and 1.0 per cent calcium chloride for 30 minutes for firming (1:2 ratio).

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The softened banana stem slices are allowed to soak overnight in the sugar syrup.The slices are removed from the syrup on the second day another 75 per cent of sugar is added to the syrup and boiled.The partially soaked banana stem slices are again added into the syrup (cooled) and kept for overnight for the penetration of sugar into the slices.The procedure is repeated for 3-4 days.

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During the fourth day citric acid is added while boiling the sugar syrup and cooled. Potassium meta bi sulphite is added to the syrup and mixed before adding the slices.The banana stem slices are allowed to soak for 7 days in the sugar syrup for the maximum sugar penetration into them.The slices are removed from the syrup washed with warm water to remove the surface sugar syrup coating and dried at room temperature.Powdered sugar is sprinkled on the partially dried slices to remove surface moisture (maximum).

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PAPER INDUSTRY:In this modern age, the consumption of paper and boards has increased tremendously.Conventionally, paper is manufactured from cellulosic materials like bamboo, hardwood, cotton rags, etc. The ever-increasing demand, especially of the advanced countries has resulted in continued denudation of forests causing severe environmental imbalances. In this context, cellulose technologists are searching for alternative raw materials.

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Agricultural residues of non-woody nature like cotton stalks, wheat straw, rice straw, sorghum stalks, hemp, jute, etc., are possible raw materials which could be used for paper and boardmaking. However, all these require to be digested at high temperature and pressure, employing energy consumptive and costly processes. Thus the search for other raw materials and cost effective processes continues.

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One of the materials found to be promising was banana stem waste, which is a very good source of cellulose. Banana production in India is the highest, and the area under its cultivation is second largest, among all fruit crops grown in India. About 9.8 lakh tons of dry residue is produced from this huge production, all of which goes waste due to non-availability of suitable technology for its commercial utilization Previous NextEnd

Process:Chopping: Banana stem waste, thrown away by farmers after harvesting of fruits, is procured as raw material. The stems are chopped into small pieces of 3-4 size by a woman worker, usually at a rate of about 100 kg material per day. This can be done either at the farm itself or at the production unit. Previous NextEnd

2. Cold digestion: The material is soaked in 1-2% NaOH for appropriate period. The alkali loosens the ligno-cellulosic bonds, thereby softening the material.3. Washing: The softened material is transferred to bamboo baskets and washed with water to remove the black liquor of sodium lignite and unused alkali.

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4. Beating: The washed material is then subjected to beating in a Hollander beater. Two actions take place here: (a) initial cutting of the material into small pieces, and (b) separation of fibre from the non-cellulosic material. 5. Storage: After completion of beating process, the pulp is delivered to a storage tank located constructed close to the beater.

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6. Board-making: Pulp from storage tank is manually lifted in a bucket and deposited in specifically fabricated wooden moulds. They are of two sizes: 26x39 and 26x52. Depending on the thickness required, appropriate quantity of pulp is poured in the mould and pressed to remove excess water, using either a screw press or hydraulic press. The maximum water content desirable at wet conditions is about 60%.

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7. Drying: The wet boards are then allowed to dry under direct sun on bamboo frames specially made for this purpose. About 90-95% moisture gets removed. There are soft boards.8. Hot Hydraulic Press Treatment: To produce hard boards, these soft boards are further pressed in a hot hydraulic press at optimized temperature and pressure. The time interval depends on the thickness required.

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9. Post-pressing: During the process of drying, the boards get deformed or warped. To makethem flat, several boards are stacked together and pressed in a screw press for 2-3 hours.10. Trimming: The well-pressed boards are then cut into standard sizes of 24x24, 24x36 and 24x48 and stacked for marketing.

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Banana board is potential substitute for wood products like plywood and medium density boards.Various uses include: Acoustic panels, Partition walls and other utilities, Packing material, Files and cover paper, Expansion joint pads, etc,.

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BANANA FIBER EXTRACTION:Banana Fiber is extracted from Banana tree bark. The trunk is peeled. Brown-green skin is thrown away retaining the cleaner or white portion which will be processed into knotted fibers. The fibers are extracted through hand extraction machine composed of either serrated or non serrated knives. Previous NextEnd

The peel is clamped between the wood plank and knife and hand-pulled through, removing the resinous material. The extracted fibers are sun-dried which whitens the fiber.

Manual extraction of Banana fibreCoarse banana fibre & livelihood Previous NextEnd

Once dried, the fibers are ready for knotting. A bunch of fibers are mounted or clamped on a stick to facilitate segregation. Each fiber is separated according to fiber sizes and grouped accordingly. To knot the fiber, each fiber is separated and knotted to the end of another fiber manually. The separation and knotting is repeated until bunches of unknotted fibers are finished to form a long continuous strand Previous NextEnd

This fiber is then used for making various products in attractive designs of various sizes. Coasters Table Mats Bags Runners Floor Mats Home Furnishings

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AGRO WASTE UTILIZATIONBanana peels and beet waste are readily available agricultural waste, yet they seem to be under utilized as potential growth medium for local yeast strain, despite their rich carbohydrate content and other basic nutrients that can support yeast growth. The indigenous yeast with good fermentation attributes, which may enhance ethanol yield and minimize cost of production, could be obtained from ripe banana peels. Previous NextEnd

This source is always available in abundance and thus serve as readily available raw material for the production of ethanol by S. cerevisiae. Protein is essential nutrient for yeast growth while fat is vital to the structure and biological functions of the cell and can be utilized as alternative source of energy by the cells. It appears therefore that the impressive performance of yeast in banana peels is due, partly, to the high contents of fat and protein.

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Bio-ethanolWith the inevitable depletion of the world's petroleum supply, there has been an increasing worldwide interest in alternative, non-petroleum based sources of energy. A growing source of transportation fuel worldwide is fermentation derived bioethanol. As well as reducing greenhouse gases, bioethanol produces less harmful emissions during combustion than its fossil fuel equivalents. Previous NextEnd

Bioethanol is produced from a wide variety of raw materials including corn starch, sugar cane and lignocellulosic waste materials. The main cost element in bioethanol production is the feedstock. Instead of using beet sugar, work is carried out by using the beet waste and banana peels for the production of ethanol which provides more practical feasibility due to its low cost.

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The ripe banana peels and beet waste peels were used within 24h after collection. In case, peels could not be used immediately stored in the refrigerator to prevent deterioration. However the stored samples were utilized within 48 h of collection.ProcessingThe peels washed with sterile distilled water, chopped into small pieces (3-5cm) using clean knife which was disinfected with 70% ethanol. 5% concentrations of substrate were used with combination of substrate and media in fermentation broth inoculated with 1% S. cerevisiae for ethanol production.

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ANIMAL FEEDLarge quantities of reject bananas are often available for animal feed, especially in banana exporting countries. Both cattle and pigs relish ripe bananas, but as an animal feed, bananas are mainly used for feeding pigs. A good silage can be made from equal parts of chopped green bananas and grass, or from chopped green bananas mixed with 1.5% molasses and on such a diet, pigs tend to have less carcass fat Previous NextEnd

Unripe bananas and plantains can also be dried and made into a meal which can be used to substitute up to 70-80% of the grain in pig and dairy diets.Banana meal has also been used in poultry diets, but high levels in the diet tend to depress growth and reduce feed efficiency. Banana and plantain pseudostems are also fed either fresh, or chopped and ensiled, to cattle and pigs.

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MEDICINALBecause they contain vitamin A, bananas and plantains act as an aid to digestion, and it is reported that boiled, mashed ripe fruit can be good for constipation, especially when mixed with other recommended plants. The juice from the male bud provides an apparent remedy for stomach problems in people of all ages, while there are reports of the ripe fruit being used in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis. Previous NextEnd

The pounded peels of ripe bananas can be used to make a poultice for wounds and, as the inside of the peel has anti-septic properties it can be wrapped directly around wounds or cuts in an emergency. In Nigeria, a weaning food based on plantain and soybean has been developed which is nutritious for babies and can be used as a therapeutic diet for the treatment of malnutrition and kwashiorkor, which results from protein deficiency. Previous NextEnd

Use of Banana leavesThe large leaves of bananas and plantains are put to a diversity of uses. They make ideal green umbrellas and are frequently used as disposable plates. The use of banana leaves as a biological plate for serving food has gained such popularity in Southern India that bananas cultivated exclusively for their leaves are now being grown commercially. In many countries, banana leaves are also used for thatching and for wrapping food for cooking Previous NextEnd

They provide temporary mats, which are used for cocoa fermentation in West Africa. The leaves were once used as truce flags, and they are still used as bowl covers, table cloths and for the covering of earth ovens to hold in the heat. They can be used for making cigarette papers and hats and they also provide packing material. Leaf sheaths can be used as water runways and containers. They are also used for making the circular pads used in carrying head loads.

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Finally, some other minor, but extremely varied, uses of the plant include the use of banana seeds for making necklaces and other ornaments, the use of banana sap as a dye, the use of the fruit as a meat tenderizer and the use of banana ash in soap. In Indonesia, the production of floor wax and shoe polish from banana peels is also being explored Previous NextEnd

Assessment:1.Banana is a fast growing and high biomass-yielding plant True/False.2.Tender banana stem is generally used as a vegetable and has low medicinal values. True/False3.What is the chemical used for Cold digestion ?Ans:1-2% NaOH4.Floor Mats is the by product of banana fiber - True/False.5.Bioethanol is produced from ---------Ans: lignocellulosic waste

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Reference:Eco-Green unit org. Eco friendly solutions to the people of India.P inoy Bisnes Ideas- Money making business ideas for entrepreneurs. Banana processing Value added products from Banana.Development of value added products from Banana pseudostem (An Overview of Progress) National Agricultural Innovation Project (Component 2) Navsari Agricultural University, NavsariModels of knowledge based transfer- the case of the presidential initiative on banana Industrial development (PIBID), Uganda.

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