Addition of Urea and Triethanolamine in Banana Peel Bioplastics

Ng, Win Nie (2023) Addition of Urea and Triethanolamine in Banana Peel Bioplastics. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

The aim of this project was to synthesize biodegradable bioplastic film from banana peels. Beside this, the effects of the addition of urea, triethanolamine and glycerol as plasticizers, as well as the addition of both urea and triethanolamine as mixed plasticizers with different ratios were studied to determine their impact on the mechanical properties, water absorptivity, biodegradability and thermal properties of banana peel based bioplastics. Pure banana peel bioplastic film (pure BP) was prepared as a control. Urea, triethanolamine and the conventional plasticizer, glycerol were used individually as the plasticizer (6% wt/wt) to prepare urea, triethanolamine and glycerol plasticized banana peel bioplastic films (UPBP, TPBP and GPGP). Urea and triethanolamine were also used as mixed plasticizers with different urea/triethanolamine (U/T) ratios (wt/wt) (5% U/1% T, 4% U/2% T, 3% U/3% T, 2% U/4% T, 1% U/5% T) to prepare urea triethanolamine plasticized banana peel bioplastic films (UTPBP) The bioplastic films produced were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, water absorption test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, tensile testing and biodegradability test. Both FT-IR and DSC showed that the mixture of urea and triethanolamine could form stronger and more stable hydrogen bonds with starch molecules than glycerol. From biodegradability test and water absorption test, it was found that increasing the amount of triethanolamine in the mixed plasticizer composition could increase the biodegradability and water absorptivity of the bioplastic film produced. Overall, UTPBP with a urea/triethanolamine ratio of 3% U/3% T showed a better thermal stability and mechanical properties with moderate water absorptivity and biodegradability among all the bioplastic films. It exhibited a high melting point of 124.15℃, tensile strength of 1.11 MPa, elastic modulus of 19.33 MPa and a moderate elongation at break, 7.66%.