Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Teen Turns Peanut Shells Into Pesticide‑Removing Filter
Arika Kundu is a 13‑year‑old girl who loves science.
She found a way to turn peanut shells, which are usually thrown away, into a special sponge that can soak up leftover chemicals on fruits and veggies.
She made a project called LIGNEX and entered a big science contest called the 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
If she wins, she could get $25,000 and help make her idea a real product.
Arika hopes to learn from scientists and maybe one day study life in space using computers.
Arika Kundu, 13, uses discarded peanut shells to create a pesticide‑removing filter.
The filter works by biosorption, trapping pesticide residues from produce surfaces.
She is a finalist in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, competing for a $25,000 prize.
The project also turns agricultural waste into a useful, sustainable material.
Kundu plans to work with 3M scientists and pursue a future in computational biology.
- Who
- Arika Kundu, a 13‑year‑old student from Minnetonka Middle School East, Shorewood, Minnesota
- What
- Invented a filter made from peanut shells that captures pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables
- When
- 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge (currently a finalist)
- Where
- Minnetonka Middle School East, Shorewood, Minnesota, United States
- Why
- To reduce pesticide exposure on produce and promote sustainable waste reuse
- Name
- Arika Kundu
- Age
- 13
- School
- Minnetonka Middle School East
- Project
- LIGNEX – A novel biosorption
- Prize
- $25,000
- Competition
- 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2026
- Material
- Peanut shells
- Goal
- Remove pesticide residues from produce