Paper made with sunflower pollen can be reprinted multiple times

Although the paper is highly recyclable, a new paper developed using sunflower pollen has a structure that can be used over and over again. Paper can be printed at least eight times, erased, and then reprinted.

Reusable paper making from sunflower pollen

Nanyang Technological University scientists have developed pollen-based paper that can be recycled without repulp and helps minimize carbon emissions.

The developed paper allows printing with a normal laser printer, although it has a softer and more transparent structure than traditional wood pulp-based paper. Applying an adhesive tape to the paper or placing the paper in water does not affect the text or image on the paper.

The print comes off when the paper is rubbed in an alkaline solution for two minutes. The blank paper is then left in ethanol for five minutes, then dried and prepared for reprocessing with acetic acid. The team states that this way the paper can be used for at least eight cycles.

The research team says the need to cut down trees to produce paper using traditional methods could be eliminated. It is also stated that pollen obtained from plants such as camellia and water lily, as well as sunflower pollen, can be used for this process.