Dealing with menstruation can be a messy and uncomfortable experience, often due to leaky pads, tampons, and cups. However, a revolutionary alginate-based powder may offer a solution to this problem. This innovative material solidifies menstrual blood into a gel mixture, effectively reducing leakage in period products without compromising their capacity. Researchers revealed this groundbreaking discovery in a report published in Matter on July 10.
Unlike traditional menstrual pads that use cellulose-based materials to absorb period blood, this new alginate-based powder shows exceptional promise. Derived from algae and seaweed, alginate has proven to be highly effective in absorbing and gelling blood. What’s more, it is already FDA-approved for use in pharmaceuticals, food, and medical materials.
To enhance the absorption capabilities of alginate, researchers added glycerol to the mix. Comparative tests between the alginate-glycerol powders and commercial absorbents showed promising results. When subjected to a simulated menstruation scenario and a squeeze test, the alginate material outperformed traditional absorbents by significantly reducing leakage under pressure. According to Bryan Hsu, a microbiologist at Virginia Tech, the alginate material transformed the experience of using period pads from “squeezing a sponge” to a leak-free solution.
2024-07-26 10:00:00
Original article available at www.sciencenews.org