Sticking to tamarind
CHEMICALLY treated tamarind seeds can provide an adhesive stronger than those commercially available, claim scientists of the College of Agricultural Engineering, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (Kisan World, Vol 28, No 8).
Large quantities of tamarind seeds are available in India as a by-product of the tamarind pulp industry. When treated with sodium carbonate, the dried and powdered kernels yielded a strong adhesive whose cost of production was just Rs 20 per kg.