Straw that detects methanol in drinks should hit the market for R$2

A disposable straw capable of detecting the presence of methanol in distilled beverages should hit the market soon with an estimated value of R$2. The product is the result of two-year research by the Department and Postgraduate Program in Chemistry at UEPB (State University of Paraíba).

According to professor and researcher Félix Brito, the project is in the patent filing phase at INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property). The straw prototypes are being tested at the Fundação Parque Tecnológico de Campina Grande, where the UEPB campus is located.

Due to the impact of recent cases of methanol poisoning in beverages in the country, the researcher says that the university has already been approached by at least two large companies interested in manufacturing biodegradable straws on a large scale for commercialization.