Characterization of Corn Starch and Banana Peel Biodegradable Plastic with Additives

Chong, Shu How (2021) Characterization of Corn Starch and Banana Peel Biodegradable Plastic with Additives. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Corn starch and banana peel bioplastics added with different additives such as urea, ethanolamine, glycerol, sorbitol, maltose, sucrose, D-allulose, starch filler, orange essential oil, CNC, bacteriocin, BIN, lactic, acid, acetic acid and others were discussed in this project. The mechanical properties, thermal properties, antimicrobial activity, and biodegradability of these bioplastics were investigated and analyzed using different instruments such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMTA), Derivative Thermogravimetric (DTG), Thermogravimetric analyzer (TG), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Based on the results obtained, the mixture of plasticizers in both corn starch and banana peel bioplastics showed better mechanical and thermal properties compared to single plasticized bioplastics. Both corn starch and banana peel bioplastics plasticized with a mixture of plasticizers showed favoured stress peak (%), strain peak (%), Young’s modulus, and elongation (%) in mechanical properties test while the corn starch bioplastic plasticized with a mixture of plasticizers showed higher glass transition temperature, Tg and onset decomposition temperature with lower mass loss in thermal properties test. In terms of antimicrobial activity, the introduction of OEO and lactic acid in corn starch bioplastic showed a better antimicrobial activity to gram-positive bacteria while the addition of zinc oxide in banana peel bioplastics showed a better antimicrobial activity to gram-negative bacteria. The corn starch bioplastics incorporated with bacteriocins and BIN showed effective growth inhibition in both gram-positive and negative bacteria. In terms of biodegradability, the higher concentration of plasticizer and starch filler improved the biodegradability of both bioplastics while the addition of bacteriocins, BIN, zinc oxide, sodium metabisulfite, and chitosan lowered the biodegradation rate of bioplastic.