Nuclear Scientists Split The Banana

[matcom]

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INDIAN nuclear scientists say they have unpeeled one of the great mysteries of the soft-drinks world - how to extract juice from bananas cheaply and simply.

The breakthrough could lead to fizzy banana juice sold in cans and bottles, banana nectar and banana wine, they say.

Despite an 85 percent water content, scientists have long struggled to extract juice from the bendy fruit because when mashed it simply turns to pulp.

Costly and complicated techniques were developed to break down walls storing the moisture using enzymes.

"But in (our) process no external agent is added," said K.K. Surendranathan of the Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9295459%255E13762,00.html