Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Plastic is one of the major contributors to environmental problems. It has been

produced around the world massively because it is very useful, cheap, manageable and

handy. It is one of the most commonly used material used in a wide variety of ways

since it can live long and can be use repeatedly. It may sound good but it can also lead

to a huge pollution problem. Since plastics tend to live longer, it also means that they

stay longer in the environment. As time passed, they accumulate the lands and oceans

and eventually cause harm to our environment especially may create problems for

plants, wildlife and even human population.

Because of this dilemma, certain approaches are being implemented by

governments and practiced by manufacturers of plastics. One of these is the promotion

of using biodegradable plastics and the use of paper-based containers. In the

Philippines, Loren Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 2759, also called as the Total Plastic Bag

Ban Act of 2011. It is an act prohibiting the use of plastic bags in groceries, restaurants,

and other establishments, and if violated, penalties will be imposed to them. Because of

these, manufacturers of plastics opted to the production of biodegradable plastics.

These so-called environment-friendly plastics can be of three types. The first type is

called Bioplastics which are made from natural materials such as corn starch. The

second type is made from traditional petrochemicals, which are engineered to break

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down more quickly. They are called Biodegradable plastics. Lastly are the plastics made

from recycled plastics materials rather than raw petrochemicals and are known as

Eco/recycled plastics. More research on the improvement of these plastics are still being

conducted to produce more eco-friendly plastics.

To address these problems, the proponents of this study aim to produce

bioplastics from banana which is said to have high in starch. Starch is one of the natural

polymers made from carbon dioxide and water by photosynthesis in plants. It is one of

the promising candidates of studies due to its complete biodegradability, low cost and

renewability.

Statement of the Problem

The main concern of this study was to see the possibility of producing a starch-

based bioplastic made from bananas and identify which percentage of starch

composition makes a suitable plastic. Specifically, this study sought to answer the

following questions:

Can banana starch make a good component to make a bioplastic?

What is the best amount of starch to be added to make the bioplastic?

What are the characteristics of the starch-based bioplastic?

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Conceptual Framework

Figure 1.1

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

BIOPLASTIC BANANA STARCH

Figure 1.1 shows the variables of the study. It shows that the composition and

procedure of the bioplastics (industry-wise) are the independent variables because they

remain constant within the experiment. On the other hand, the amount of starch to be

incorporated into making the bioplastics is the dependent variable, because it is the

variable that changes and varies accordingly within the study.

Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis (H0): There is no significant difference between the

characteristics bioplastic sold in the public market and the starch-based bioplastic that

will be produced in the end of this study.

Alternative Hypothesis (H1): There is significant difference between the

characteristics bioplastic sold in the public market and the starch-based bioplastic that

will be produced in the end of this study.

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Significance of the Study

This study is important as it address the environmental problems occurring in the

society as well as the threats of the global warming. Through this study, the

researchers will be able to help other people, the animals and the environment. The

bioplastic that will be produced in this study would be a great help in the industry as it

reduces waste, energy-cost and can be a good substitute for plastics which cause

significant environmental and economic burdens. Producing and practicing the use of

bioplastics could be an effective solution to these problems. Biodegradable plastics

break down faster, can be recycled easier and are non-toxic. With these, we could help

save lives and the environment as well and reduce the threat plastics give to marine

life. This type of plastics is made of naturally-occurring materials thus they are assured

to be safe to use. With the use of these plastics, the effects of non-biodegradable

products will be minimized.

Scope and Limitations

This study is only limited to the use of Cardaba and Lacatan varieties of banana. The

study will be conducted from the months of July until September 2016, and the

experiment at the Science Laboratory of the Our Lady of Fatima Academy of Davao,

Inc. The scope of this study only deals with the ability of banana starch as main

component of bioplastic. The life duration of the plastic is not covered in this study.

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Definition of Terms

The study encompasses the following terms:

Conceptual Terms:

Starch - long chains of sugar molecules linked together like a chain. A single sugar

molecule is a monosaccharide.

Bioplastic plastics in which all carbon is derived from renewable feedstocks.

Biodegradable - can break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means,

into the raw materials of nature and disappear into the environment.

Objectives:

This study aims to achieve the following:

To be able to use banana starch as main component for bioplastic

To reduce the use of plastics that pollutes the environment

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 Chapter 2

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

Research Questions

The researcher aims to answer the question, is it possible to make bioplastic

from banana starch?

Materials

A. Extraction of Starch from Bananas

The materials used in extracting starch were cheese grater, 10 pieces of banana, big

bowl, strainer, beaker, and lukewarm water.

B. Making of Bioplastic

The materials used in making the bioplastic were stove, pan, spatula, teaspoon,

tablespoon, water, banana starch, glycerin, vinegar.

Procedures

A. Extraction of Starch from Bananas

After preparing all the materials needed, the researcher grated the bananas into

a large bowl. Lukewarm water was then poured into it to form a heterogeneous

mixture. It was then decanted properly while pouring the liquid into another

bowl. Another amount of lukewarm water was then poured into the leftover

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 grated bananas. This would ensure that all starch from the banana will be

washed away with the water. This process was repeated until the water became

clear. It was set aside to allow the starch to settle down at the bottom. After two

hours, the water was removed by decantation. The starch left in the container

was placed in a Distilled water was then used to clean the starch to remove any

pollutants to obtain pure starch. The mixture was allowed to stand for thirty

minutes and followed by decantation. This process was repeated until water

becomes clear. The starch obtained was placed in a tissue and left overnight.

B. Making of Bioplastic

The making of plastic started by mixing a tablespoon of the banana starch, four

tablespoons of water, a teaspoon of glycerin and vinegar in a pan. Medium heat

was applied to make a thick homogeneous mixture. It was mixed until it a gel-

like structure was achieved. On a pad, the mixture was poured and spread

evenly. It was then allowed to dry

Data Gathering

The gathered data will be arranged in the following table for a simpler and easier

process of computation and analysis of variance. The figure shows that the

researcher set different measurements of turmeric powder to test if it is really

effective to kill mosquito.

Table 1. Characteristics of Bioplastic with different amount of Banana starch

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 Amount of
Amount of
Trials Banana Starch Characteristics
Glycerin (g)
(g)

Soft, flexible,

Trial 1 14 4.8 translucent,

smooth surface

stiff, flexible,

Trial 2 16 4.8 translucent, less

smooth surface

rigid, less flexible,

Trial 3 18 4.8 translucent, rough

surface

Data Analysis

After gathering all data, the researcher found out that the stiffness of the

bioplastic increased as the amount of banana starch added also increased. Flexibility of

the bioplastic decreases as the amount of starch increases. This was also observed for

the smoothness of the surface.

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 Chapter 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The quality of plastic produced greatly depends on the proportion of additives

used. Any difference in the formulation causes changes in terms of flexibility, color,

transparency and texture. The difference in the amount of starch had an effect in the

texture and transparency of the samples (see Table 1).

The result showed that among the three trials, trial 2 with 16 g of Banana starch

showed characteristics of a potential bioplastic. It is not soft that can be easily torn

apart, it is flexible like those of commercial plastics, and is translucent with smooth

surface. This was made possible due to the starch added. When added with water, the

biopolymer in starch is dissolved into solution. Upon heating, the starch molecules tend

to become disrupted and disordered. After drying, these polymer chains become

entangled until a neat fil is formed. That is why the more starch is added, its stiffness

increases.

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 Chapter 4

CONCLUSION

The researcher concludes that the use of Cardava banana (Musa sapientum) is

effective as a main ingredient for making bioplastic. This result can be seen in Table 1.

From the data, the researcher concluded that trial 2 (with 16 g of starch) was the most

appropriate to achieve a good bioplastic. This trial was done in the same area and also

the same weather but has different amounts.

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 Chapter 5

RECOMMENDATION

The researcher recommends further research on the project. It is also suggested

to study the effects of glycerin at different amounts. The researcher also said that you

must gather more information so that it will be easier for you to conduct your study and

not be hard and complicated.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Retrieved from http://green-plastics.net/posts/69/qaa-why-water-and-vinegar/ on

September 25, 2017

Retrived from hhttps://prezi.com/43d34-l55uh6/potato-starch-as-biodegradable-plastic/

on September 15, 2017

Retrieved from http://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/ on August 21, 2017

Retrieved from http://green-plastics.net/posts/76/qaa-help-with-cornstarch-pla-plastic-

project/ on September 9, 2017

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