New Use For Coffee Beans

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 4 (Supplement)

New Use For Coffee Beans

FOR many years scientists have been trying to discover new uses for coffee. At present far more coffee is produced than the world can consume, and Brazil alone has burned millions of bags. Now it lias been announced that research work in connection with the production of plastic materia! front cot Tec beans lias proved so succcssful that construction of a small experimental plant has been started in New York. It is understood that the plant will eventually be shipped to South America —probably Brazil—where it will form the miclciis of a new factory. South American coffee interests financed this research work. The material produced by this new process is as transparent and glossy as similar synthetic plastics such as hakelite, and can be produced in alt colours. It is exceptionally well suited for the production of insulating and building material, such as tiles, and for electrical apparatus. The process also produces a number of valuable by-products, including oil of the quality of linseed, fertiliser, vitamin D and vegetable dves. It is claimed for this invention that tho entire surplus annual coffee production of South America can be absorbed. Although Brazil alone can snpplv the whole world with its coffee requirements, very little Brazilian coffee comes to England, owing to its low qualitv. England's chief source of supply 'is Biitish Ij.ist Africa, which produces somo of tho world's finest coffees. Kenya Tanganyika and Uganda now supply nearly half of tho United Kingdom's cofleo requirements. Kenva coffee in particular lias become cxtremelv popular in r. 'cut years. "