Characterization and Parametric Study on Mechanical Properties Enhancement in Biodegradable Chitosan-Reinforced Starch-Based Bioplastic Film

Bioplastic has been perceived as a promising candidate to replace petroleum-based plastics due to its environment-friendly and biodegradable characteristics. This study presents the chitosan-reinforced, starch-based bioplastic film prepared by the solution casting and evaporation method. The effects of processing parameters, i.e., starch concentration, glycerol loading, process temperature and chitosan loading on mechanical properties were examined. Optimum tensile strength of 5.19 MPa and elongation at break of 44.6% were obtained under the combined reaction conditions of 5 wt.% starch concentration, 40 wt.% glycerol loading, 20 wt.% chitosan loading and at a process temperature of 70 °C. From the artificial neural network (ANN) modeling, the coefficient of determination (R2) for tensile strength and elongation at break were found to be 0.9955 and 0.9859, respectively, which proved the model had good fit with the experimental data. Interaction and miscibility between starch and chitosan were proven through the peaks shifting to a lower wavenumber in FTIR and a reduction of crystallinity in XRD. TGA results suggested the chitosan-reinforced starch-based bioplastic possessed reasonable thermal stability under 290 °C. Enhancement in water resistance of chitosan-incorporated starch-based bioplastic film was evidenced with a water uptake of 251% as compared to a 302% registered by the pure starch-based bioplastic film. In addition, the fact that the chitosan-reinforced starch-based bioplastic film degraded to 52.1% of its initial weight after 28 days suggests it is a more sustainable alternative than the petroleum-based plastics.

Rapid Ultrasound-Assisted Starch Extraction from Sago Pith Waste (SPW) for the Fabrication of Sustainable Bioplastic Film

The present study was conducted to optimize the extraction yield of starch from sago (Metroxylon sagu) pith waste (SPW) with the assistance of ultrasound ensued by the transformation of extracted starch into a higher value-added bioplastic film. Sago starch with extraction yield of 71.4% was successfully obtained using the ultrasound-assisted extraction, with the following conditions: particle size <250 µm, solid loading of 10 wt.%, ultrasonic amplitude 70% and duty cycle of 83% in 5 min. The rapid ultrasound approach was proven to be more effective than the conventional extraction with 60.9% extraction yield in 30 min. Ultrasound-extracted starch was found to exhibit higher starch purity than the control starch as indicated by the presence of lower protein and ash contents. The starch granules were found to have irregular and disrupted surfaces after ultrasonication. The disrupted starch granules reduced the particle size and increased the swelling power of starch which was beneficial in producing a film-forming solution. The ultrasound-extracted sago starch was subsequently used to prepare a bioplastic film via solution casting method. A brownish bioplastic film with tensile strength of 0.9 ± 0.1 MPa, Young’s modulus of 22 ± 0.8 MPa, elongation at break of 13.6 ± 2.0% and water vapour permeability (WVP) of 1.11 ± 0.1 × 10−8 g m−1 s−1 Pa−1 was obtained, suggesting its feasibility as bioplastic material. These findings provide a means of utilization for SPW which is in line with the contemporary trend towards greener and sustainable products and processes.

Potensi Limbah Sisik Ikan Sebagai Kitosan dalam Pembuatan Bioplastik

<p><strong>Bioplastics are environmentally friendly plastics derived from natural materials. Bioplastics are easier to decompose when compared to commercial plastics. Bioplastics are generally made from starch contained in plants. But the use of starch as a base material has the disadvantage of producing bioplastics that are not waterproof. Therefore, it is necessary to add chitosan to improve bioplastic characteristics. Chitosan usually comes from the shell of crustacean animals, but it turns out that in fish scales waste, also contains chitosan. Fish scales are a by-product of the process of fish processing. Fish scales are only discarded and not utilized so that they become waste that can pollute the environment. Fish scales have a chitin content that can process into chitosan, which can be useful as an additional ingredient in the manufacture of bioplastics. This review aims to find out the potential of fish scales waste as chitosan in the manufacture of bioplastics. Based on the results of previous research, fish scales have a chitosan content that can use as an additional ingredient in the manufacture of bioplastics. Fish scale chitosan can form bioplastic film with characteristic brownish-yellow film. The addition of fish scale chitosan is also able to improve the water resistance of bioplastic film. Based on the results of the review can be concluded bring fish scales to have the potential as chitosan that can use in the manufacture of bioplastic.</strong></p><p><strong>Keywords –</strong> <em>Bioplastic, Chitosan, Fish Scales.</em></p><p> </p>

Production of Cost-Effective Biodegradable Straw

Every year 15,342 tons of plastic waste have been produced. Among these plastic wastes, the big junk of the waste is plastic straws which are used for just a few minutes and thrown away. To prevent the plastic pollution, we need to create proper awareness. In order to avoid the pollution by plastic straws, we planned to produce a Biodegradable straw which is chemical free and an eco-friendly product. The plastic straws are harmful to human health. Our Present study focuses to produce a Biodegradable straw using eco-friendly ingredients like banana peel, cinnamon, corn starch, honey, thyme leaves and vinegar. To replace these plastic straws the bioplastic film was naturally prepared from banana peel with some chemical free ingredients. According to the study of bioplastic, banana peel has the ability to produce bioplastic film which is best alternative of plastic use. Also, vinegar can degrade the starch. And study about cinnamon shows that cinnamon can prolong the shelf life of the bioplastic film and it banishes the smell of vinegar. The flexibility of the bioplastic film can be attained by the thyme leaves in addition it also has an antifungal property. Honey acts as a plasticizer to make the material softer and more flexible and also it has antimicrobial activity. An application of heat brings polymerization from these mixtures. Thus, the bio plastic replaces the petroleum-based plastic with something made from food waste or agricultural by-products.

Evaluation of the effects of additives on the properties of starch-based bioplastic film

The adverse environmental effects of petroleum-based packaging plastics have necessitated the need for eco-friendly bioplastics. Most bioplastics are starch-based and are not without drawbacks, hence there is the need for their properties to be improved. In this study, the effect of varying concentrations of dialdehyde starch and silica solutions on the physical, mechanical, biodegradable, surface topology, and thermal properties of the bioplastic films was examined. The additive concentrations were varied from 60 to 100%. The bioplastic films produced with dialdehyde starch solution recorded better moisture content (6.62–11.85%), bioplastic film solubility (4.23–7.90%), and tensile strength (1.63–3.06 MPa), against (11.24–14.26%), (7.77–19.27%) and (0.53–0.73 MPa) respectively for bioplastic films produced with silica solution. The atomic force microscopy analysis; root-mean-square roughness, kurtosis, and skewness revealed better miscibility and compatibility between the starch matrix and the dialdehyde solution than between the starch matrix and the silica solution. Bioplastic with added dialdehyde starch solution has better tensile strength and long biodegradability than that with silica solution. The research has demonstrated that bioplastic film produced with starch and dialdehyde starch solution has better properties than the one produced with starch and silica solution. The properties evaluation results of the bioplastic films thus demonstrated their aptness for food packaging applications. Graphic abstract