Potential bioplastic from agricultural wastes using banana peel starch reinforced with nanocrystalline cellulose derived from bamboo stem.

https://doi.org/10.70228/CBJ2022033

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ABSTRACT

The Philippines is one of the agricultural countries in Asia, and it produces more agricultural wastes, such as banana peels and bamboo stems. The peel of Musa Acuminata Balbisiana, commonly known as Saba is the most abundant variety of banana in the country and it is rich in starch. The cellulose in the bamboo stems is used to enhance the mechanical properties of bioplastic polymers. The purpose of carrying out this study is for the production of bioplastics from organic materials using starch and cellulose. The needed starch for bioplastic was extracted through the homogenization of distilled water that contained sodium metabisulphite. The application of the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and iodine tests were made to confirm the presence of starch by observing the appearance of the bluish–violet color upon the addition of iodine to the sample. The nanocrystalline cellulose material was then extracted through the process of applying a bleaching treatment to bamboo pulp and the use of acid hydrolysis. Fair spectra then confirmed the presence of nanocrystalline cellulose while the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) results confirmed the presence of nanoparticles in the dispersion. The reinforced banana peel starch with cellulose was in the form of a jelly-like suspension. A bioplastic was formed after cooling at 4^oC for 60 minutes in the dialysis membrane. Bioplastic films with starch, varying amounts of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), and glycerol were then prepared (10:0.25:3, 10:0.50:3, 10:1.00:3, and 10:1.50:3) for biodegradability, tensile strength, water absorbency, acid resistance, and alkali resistance tests. The produced bioplastic of 10:1.00:3 was then compared to the commercially available bioplastic. The results showed that there was a significant difference in terms of water absorbency, biodegradability, and alkali resistance.

Keywords: bioplastic; banana peel; starch; nanocrystalline cellulose; bamboo