Chapter III

Methodology

Research Design

The study employs the use of two research designs to: the first of the two being the

experimental design in which three parallel experiments are set up, similar in all respects

except the two being the experimental units; the other being the comparative design, which

compares three groups in order to analyze the similarities and differences between them.

Subject of the Study

Past researches on the use of the banana peel as a bioplastic component served as the

foundation of this research to employ the following as the main experimental units:

1. Soaked Cardava banana peelings in NaHCO3 solution + 5 mL glycerine + 0.5 M

HCl solution

2. Soaked Cardava banana peelings in Na2S2O5 solution + 5 mL glycerine + 0.5 M

HCl solution

3. Conventional plastic

These treatments were selected based from the recommendations of other researchers

on the treatments that affect the thickness, strength and shelf life of a bioplastic. The

bioplastic will be subjected to evaluation tests (biodegradability test and tensile strength

resistance test) in which their effectivity and quality will be determined. To maintain the

1
accuracy and efficiency of data, there will be three replicates used in each treatment of each

test method.

Research Environment

The research will be performed in the residence house of one of the researchers at

Forest Drive Village, San Roque, Bislig City, and at the science laboratory of De La Salle

John Bosco College. Most of the materials and equipments that will be needed to perform the

research are found within the premises of the researcher’s residence and the laboratory.

Materials and Equipment

The materials and equipment that will be used in the making of the bioplastic will be

from the residence of the researchers. These include the metal spoons, ceramic bowls, plastic

containers, stove, and the liquefied petroleum gas. The Cardava banana peelings will be

collected from local businesses that utilize such fruit. The glycerol will also be bought in

chemical stores near the city.

For the evaluation tests, the aluminum trays will be bought from a grocery store in

Bislig City. The loam soil will be harvested from the researcher’s residence house. A triple-

beam balance will be used and borrowed from the institution’s laboratory.

Any other necessary materials and equipment that were used to perform the study are

further discussed in the research method.

2
Research Methods

Making of Banana-based bioplastic. The Cardava banana peels will be collected

and gathered from local businesses who are utilizing the fruit. The peels will then be washed

over running tap water to ensure that no bacteria or other chemical substances are present

that may have an effect on the bioplastic.

After which, the peels are minced into small pieces and soaked in sodium

metabisulphite or in sodium bicarbonate solution for 45 minutes. They are then boiled in

distilled water for about 30 minutes. The water is decanted from the beaker and the peels are

now left to dry on filter paper for about 30 minutes.

After the peels are dried, they are placed in a beaker. Using a hand blender, the peels

are pureed until a uniform paste is formed. A 25g banana paste is placed in a beaker.3ml of

(0.5N) HCl is added to this mixture and is mixed thoroughly. 2ml Glycerol isalso added to

the mixture.0.5 N NaOH is added according to pH desired.The mixture will be then poured

into a Petri dish and put in the oven at 130°C (for the sodium metabisulphite-preserved

mixture) and 150°C (for the sodium bicarbonate-preserved mixture) for 30 minutes.

All the measurements made were made as accurately as possible. Surgical gloves and

face masks were worn throughout the experiment for safety precautions. These instruments

will be needed for the completion of the experimentation: glass pipette, beakers, alcohol

burner, and glass stirring rod, oven, oven tray, gauze pad, hand mixer and blender.

Biodegradability Test. The following procedures that will be made in the

biodegradability test are based from the research of two Philippine Science High School –

Western Visayas Campus scholars namely Julian Paolo Biyo and Jason Andrei Temelo

3
entitled, “Effect of the Different Types of Substrates on the Biodegradability of SM Plastic

Bags” (2008). However, there were some modifications used in this research such as the use

of loam soil, open air, and saltwater only as substrates for the biodegradability test.

The loam soil that was used in the biodegradability test was gathered from the

residence house of the researcher in San Roque, Bislig city. Five hundred grams each of loam

soil will be put into nine 9” x 9” aluminum trays. One hundred mL of tap water willbe added

in the loam soil. Nine empty 9” x 9” aluminum trays will be used for the open air substrate.

Each aluminum tray contained three 1.5” x 1.5” strips of a single type of bioplastic/plastic.

Data will be gathered for over a period of 42 days. Before the bioplastics and

conventional plastic will be immersed in the substrates, they will be weighed first using a

triple-beam balance. The measured mass will be the initial weight of the bioplastic/plastic

and is denoted by Wi. Every seven days, the bioplastic/plastic will be recovered from

immersion. Physical observations will be done to look for any signs and forms of

biodegradation such as thinning, formation of holes and the presence of microbial colonies.

After that, they will be wiped with moist cotton films and air-dried for four hours. They will

be again weighed using a triple-beam balance. The measured mass by that time is the dry

weight of the bioplastic/plastic and is denoted by Wf.

Using the initial and the dry weights of the bioplastic/plastic, the percent weight loss

in each bioplastic/plastic will be calculated using the formula:

percent weight loss = [(Wi - Wf) / Wi] * 100%

4
 The gathered data will be used to compute the mean percent weight loss for each type

of bioplastic/plastic using the mean formula. Figure 1 shows the table that will be used by the

researchers to record the data that they will be gathering.

Percent Weight Loss for Sodium Bicarbonate-preserved Bioplastic

Day Open Air Loam Soil Salt Water
C1 C2 C3 E1 E2 E3 E1 E2 E3
0
7
14
21
28
35
42
Average
Total Average
Figure 1. Paradigm of the Biodegradability Test

Legend:

E- experimental variable

C- control variable

Using the specifications set by the American Society for Testing Materials about the

biodegradability of a material, the researchers will be able to determine whether the

bioplastic is biodegradable or not under controlled laboratory conditions. In this manner, the

biodegradability of the bioplastic will be measured accurately and precisely without being

too costly.

5
 Tensile strength test. To test the bioplastic’s resistance, the researchers will be

measuring the dimensions (i.e cross-sectional area, length) of the 1.5” x 1.5” strips of each

type of plastic (NaHCO3-preserved bioplastic, Na2S2O5-preserved bioplastic &

conventional plastic). Three replicates of each strip from each type of plastic will then be

hanged. The strips will be added with weights until the sample breaks or fractures. This

process will be repeated for three times to correlate to the three replicates used in the

biodegradation test.

To compute the tensile strength, the force that caused the breakage or fracture will be

divided by the original cross-sectional area of the plastic all over the change in length divided

by the original length. The tensile strength is given with the formula:

𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 ÷𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

Tensile Strength = 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ ÷𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

Using the data gathered from the treatments, the mean tensile strength of the each

bioplastic and plastic will be computed using the average formula. The computed mean of

each bioplastic and plastic will then be compared.

Figure 2 shows the table that will be used to record the tensile strength test of the Sodium

Bicarbonate-preserved bioplastic, Sodium Metabisulfite-preserved bioplastic, and

conventional plastic.

6
 Type of Tensile Strength Test
Plastic
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Average

Sb (control)

Sm (experimental)

Cp (experimental)
Figure 2. Paradigm of the Tensile Strength Test

Legend:

Sb - Sodium Bicarbonate-preserved bioplastic

Sm - Sodium Metabisulfite-preserved bioplastic

Cp - Convetional plastic

Disposal Method. Most of the equipment and apparatus that will be used in the

making of the bioplastic and its evaluation (biodegradability test, tensile strength test) will be

washed first with tap water. All the excess bioplastics, tested bioplastics and malfunctional

bioplastics will be composted at the residence house of the researcher. The excess HCl and

NaOH solutions will be allowed to participate in a neutralization reaction to form an aqueous

solution of NaCl. The NaCl solutions will then be diluted and thrown in the laboratory sink.

Any other materials used in this research will be segregated according to the disposal method

designated by the local municipal government.