ABSTRACT

The research work on synthesis of bio plastic material by using banana peels. Bio
plastic prepared using the banana peels serve as potential alternative to the
conventional plastic material. Every developed country depends on the industry as the
main factor of its economy. Lack of exports, depression in both the general economy
and the value of the currency are consequences of neglecting the industry. Making bio
plastic from banana peels instead of traditional petroleum based plastic is believed to
be successful solution to increase efficiency of plastic industry. The result show that
the plastic produced could bear the weight one and half times more than petroleum
plastic. Plastic industry is considered one of the most important industries because
plastic is an important factor in the making of many useful products such as sheets,
tubes, rods, slabs, building blocks and domestic products. Making bioplastic from
banana peels instead of the traditional petroleum-based plastic is believed to be a
successful solution to increase the efficiency of plastic industry. The solution
produces the same amount of plastic with higher efficiency and durability and with a
little cost in less time than normal plastic, so it meets the design requirements of any
successful solution which are production, efficiency, and cost.

This report introduces a scientific method to generate bio plastic from banana
peels and help to reduce the pollution.

Keywords: Bio plastic, Banana peels, Biodegradation, Plastic, starch, sodium meta
bisulfate

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

INTRODUCTION

Today’s plastics are designed with little consideration for their ultimate disposability
or recyclability. This has resulted in mounting worldwide concerns over the
environmental consequences of such materials when they enter the waste stream after
their intended uses, Of particular concern are polymers used in single use, disposable
plastic applications. Plastics are strong, light-weight, inexpensive, easily processable
and energy efficient. They have excellent barrier properties. They are disposable, and
very durable. However, it is these very attributes of strength and indestructibility that
cause problems when these materials enter the waste stream. They are not readily
broken down by the natural elements in the environment or in waste management
infrastructures such as composting to become a part of the biological carbon cycle of
our ecosystem. This results in an irreversible build-up of these materials in the
environment causing scaring of landscapes, fouling of beaches, and posing a serious
hazard to marine life. .(Kalaiarasen Kanesen, 2015).

Plastics are resistant to biological degradation because microorganisms do not have

enzymes capable of degrading and utilizing most man made polymers. In addition, the
hydrophobic character of plastics inhibits enzyme activity and the low surface area of
plastics with their inherent high molecular weight further compounds the problem.
Bio plastic can defined as plastic made of biomass such as corn, banana peels and
sugarcane. Biodegradability of bio plastics has been widely publicized in society and
the demand for packaging is rapidly increasing among retailers and the food industry
at large scale. Population growth has led to accumulation of massive volume of non-
degradable waste materials across our planet. The accumulation of plastic waste has
become a major concern in terms of the environment. Conventional plastic not only
take many decades during decomposition, but also produce toxins while degradation.
Hence, there is need to produce plastics from materials that can be readily eliminated
from our biosphere in an “ecofriendly” fashion. Bio plastics are natural biopolymers
synthesized and catabolized by various organism. Bio plastic can replace petroleum
based plastic and can be made from vegetable wastes that contain starch. Bio plastic
are completely safe and do not have any harmful chemicals or toxins.

Plastic causes environmental pollution because of non-biodegradable characteristic

and they are full of by-products and chemicals which are released during their break

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

down process. It’s been estimated that 400,000 barrels of oil are used each day to
make plastic packaging in the world. The oil-based plastics cannot be rid easily and
create landfills or environmental pollution (M.R.Gaonkar, 2014).

Biodegradable plastics are a new generation of polymers emerging on the world

market. Biodegradable plastics have an expanding range of potential applications, and
driven by the growing use of plastics in packaging and the perception that
biodegradable plastics are ‘environmentally friendly’, their use is predicted to
increase. However, issues are also emerging regarding the use of biodegradable
plastics and their potential impacts on the environment and effects on established
recycling systems and technologies. The banana fruit’s peel was selected for this
experiment because it is a waste material rich of starch-according to Songklanakarin
Journal of Science and Technology, the proximate composition of a banana peel is
shown Table 1.

Item Content (g/100g dry matter)

Protein 8.6±0.1
Fat 13.1±0.2
Starch 12.78±0.9
Ash 15.25±0.1
Total dietary fat 50.25±0.2
Table 1: Banana peels content

According to The Packaging Bulletin Magazine’s January issue, it is a proven fact

that starch and cellulose are important raw materials used in the biodegradable plastic
industry (Packaging Bulletin, 2009). Since they are rich with starch and this starch is
very easy to extract, potatoes are the most commonly used raw materials. For this
experiment we use different type of material that is banana peel because it also rich
with starch. Actually, banana peel has no scientific name because only living
organisms could have it. Banana could have the scientific name of common banana
that is Musaceae musa. The propane-1, 2, 3-triol used in the experiment functions as a
plasticizer, an additive used to develop or improve the plasticity of a material. It
disconnects the polymer chains from one another; restraining them from becoming
rows of chains and acquiring a crystalline structure. The formation of the crystalline
structure is undesired because it is a brittle and fragile structure which makes the

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

plastic brittle and fragile as well. Instead of the crystalline structure, the formation of
film (not becoming rows of chains of polymers) is desired.( Zamri Bin Yusoff, 2015)

Starch is one of the major sources in the development of bioplastic. Many previous
studies have been conducted by using starch as a natural biopolymer. Starch consists
of a long chain of two glucose units joined together, namely branched polymerized
amylopectin and amylose, which gives its granular structure. Due to its large
availability, low-cost, renewability and biodegradability, starches are commonly used
in the production of bioplastic. Starch can behave like a thermoplastic in the presence
of plasticizer, with application of heat and mechanical treatment [4]. As native starch-
based films are limited to high water affinity and brittleness, other natural
biopolymers are often added as fillers to modify and improve films properties.

One of the most common waste form of starch is the banana peels. The waste
management problem is also faced due to the disposal of tones of banana peels in
some parts of the globe, especially in developing countries. In Malaysia, there are
several industries based on banana products such as manufacturing of banana cake,
banana chips, banana fritters and many more. These industries use banana flesh as
raw materials and discard the peels into the waste at end of the process. The disposal
of these large amounts of organic waste can eventually harm the environment and
lead to health problems such as respiratory disorders.

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

History

The keen interest in bioplastic has begun since the early 20th century when Henry
Ford used corn and soybean oils to manufacture his automotive parts [3]. Currently,
the bioplastic industry promises good opportunities as this new era, there is a high
demand for plastic in global markets. Macromolecules from natural polymers and
smaller molecules such as sugar, disaccharides and fatty acids are becoming major
raw materials in the production of bioplastic.

Plastics are inexpensive, lightweight and durable materials, which can readily be
moulded into a variety of products that find use in a wide range of applications. As a
consequence, the production of plastics has increased markedly over the last 60 years.
However, current levels of their usage and disposal generate several environmental
problems. Around 4% of world oil and gas production, a non-renewable resource, is
used as feedstock for plastics and a further 3-4% is expended to provide energy for
their manufacture. A major portion of plastic produced each year is used to make
disposable items of packaging or other short-lived products that are discarded within a
year of manufacture. These two observations alone indicate that our current use of
plastics is not sustainable. In addition, because of the durability of the polymers
involved, substantial quantities of discarded end-of-life plastics are accumulating as
debris in landfills and in natural habitats worldwide.( Jefferson Hopewell, 2009)

Recycling is one of the most important actions currently available to reduce these
impacts and represents one of the most dynamic areas in the plastics industry today.
Recycling provides opportunities to reduce oil usage, carbon dioxide emissions and
the quantities of waste requiring disposal. Here, we briefly set recycling into context
against other waste-reduction strategies, namely reduction in material use through
down gauging or product reuse, the use of alternative biodegradable materials and
energy recovery as fuel.

Advantages and Challenges

The main advantage of bioplastic over conventional plastic is that they degrade into
environment without creating any pollution. Plastic from banana peels can be used for
making plastic bags and tubes due its flexibility and durability. The high production

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

cost and the availability of low-cost petrochemical derived plastics led to bioplastic
being ignored for a long time.

Future Scope

In the future, instead of using banana peels, potato peels would be used for
manufacturing the plastic and that is because this material has more starch and more
polymer chains that form the plastic, so as a result it has higher efficiency than banana
peels, as its efficiency is 90% while the efficiency of the banana peels is 80%.

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

Aim

To produce the biodegradable plastic by using banana peels

Objective

1. Collection of various banana peels

2. Production of bioplastic

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Materials

1. Banana peels

Instruments

1. Blender

2. Hot air oven

3. Weighing balance

General requirements

1. Beaker
2. Petri plates
3. Stirrer
4. Filter papers
5. Lab weights
6. Mortar and Pestle
7. Bunsen burner
8. Muslin cloth

Chemicals

1. Sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5)

2. Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
3. Plasticizer ( Glycerol- C3H8O3)
4. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
5. Distilled water

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

Method and Experimental procedure

Similarly sized banana peels with no injury or bruises on the skin are purchased from
the market in order to ensure the experimental process will fair.

A) Preparation of Banana Skins

Step 1
Banana peels are removed using stainless steel knife and converted into small
pieces. The peels are dipped in sodium metabisulfite solutions for 45 minutes.
It is used as antioxidant and preservative. This would the biodegradation
period of plastic. (Fig 1)
Step 2
Banana peels are boiled in distilled water for about 30 minutes. (Fig 2)
Step 3
The water is decanted from the beaker and the peels are now left to dry on
filter paper for about 30 minutes.
Step 4
After the peels are dried, they are placed in beaker and using a hand blender
the peels are pureed until a uniform paste is formed.
B) Production of Plastic
Step 1
25 ml of banana paste is placed in beaker
Step 2
3 ml of (0.25 N) HCl is added to this mixture and stirred using glass rod or
stirrer
Step 3
2 ml of plasticizer (Glycerol) is added and stirred.
Step 4
0.5 N Sodium hydroxide is added according to the pH desired, after a desired
residence time. (Fig 3)
Step 5
The mixture was poured into petri plates and put in oven at 1300C.

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

Fig 1: Banana peels soaked in Sodium metabisulfite

Fig 2: Banana peels boiled with distilled water

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

Fig 3: Mixture of banana paste with chemicals

Flow chart of Method

Collection of banana peels

Conversion of banana peels into small pieces

Deep in sodium metabisulfite soln for 45 minutes

Boiling of banana peels in D/W for 30 minutes

Drying of peels after decanted from beaker for 30 minutes

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

Making of uniform paste of boiled banana using blender of hand blender

3 ml of HCl added in 25 ml banana paste in beaker

2 ml of plasticizer (Glycerol) added and stirred

0.5/0.1 M NaOH added according to pH

Mixture is spread on petri plates

Spreaded mixture is heated in oven at 1200C

Plates are allowed to cool and plate is scrapped off the surface

Reaction Mechanism

It is emphasized that presence of HCl and NaOH in proper concentration is consider

to be a controlling factor for its strength.

The hydrochloric acid is used in the hydrolysis of amylopectin, which is needed in

order to aid the process of film formation due to the H-bonding amongst the chains of
glucose in starch, since amylopectin restricts the film formation. The sodium
hydroxide in the experiment is simply used to neutralize the pH of the medium. Acid

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

hydrolysis changes the physiochemical properties of starch without changing its

granule structure. If the amylopectin content is higher in the starch, the recovery of
starch decreases.

Glycerol as a Plasticizer

Plasticizers or dispersants are additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of a

material. The dominant applications are for plastics, especially polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) glycerol, sorbitol. The properties of other materials are also improved when
blended with plasticizers including concrete, clays, and related products. Plasticizers
make it possible to achieve improved compound processing characteristics, while also
providing flexibility in the end-use product. Glycerol (also called glycerin) is a simple
polyol (sugar alcohol) compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is
sweet-tasting and non-toxic.

Sodium metabisulfite as an Antioxidant

The sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) is used as an antioxidant here. It prevents the

microbial growth in the peels. It is used as a disinfectant, antioxidant and preservating
agent. It is soluble in ethanol and water.

Experimental Runs Conducted

We carried out three experimental runs for the production of bioplastic from banana
peels. Each time we change the concentration of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric
acid. First trial was rejected due to efficiency of chemical requirements.

In second trial we take the same concentrations of NaOH and HCl ass shown in
following table (Table 2)

Trial 2 Amount of Residence time Concentration of Concentration of

the paste (ml) (min) HCl NaOH
25 10 0.1 M 0.1 M
25 15 0.1 M 0.1 M
Table 2: concentrations of NaOH and HCl (Trial 2)

Status : this trial was rejected due to the presence of perforations in the sample and
ineffective heating which made them unsuitable for testing

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

Trial 3 amount of Residence time Concentration of Concentration of

the paste (ml) (min) HCl NaOH
25 10 0.1 M 0.3 M
25 15 0.1 M 0.3 M
25 20 0.1 M 0.3 M
Table 3: concentrations of NaOH and HCl (Trial 3)

Status :in third trial the little amount of perforations are found and plastic is tested for
visualization and degradation of plastic within 6-7 months. (Table 3)

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

25ml is the optimum amount of banana paste used.

In trial 2 which is shown in table (2), while adding 0,1M HCl and NaOH, Plastic has
formed but it was fragile and thin. The plastic started to decay after 1 day. While
adding 0,1M HCl and NaOH, No plastic was formed. The mixture formed started to
decay after 1 day.

In trial 3 Plastic has formed, and it was much thicker than trial 2 but it started to decay
after 3 days. It has acquired a darker color and a sharp scent and lost its strength and
has become much more fragile. As shown in Fig (4)

Fig 4: Final product with perforations on its surface

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 Production of Biodegradable Plastic by using Banana Peels

REFERENCES

1. Noor Fatimah Kader Sultan1 1, Wan Lutfi Wan Johari2, Department of

Environmental Science, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University Putra
Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2. Prof. Manasi Ghamande1, Aaditya Kulkarni2 ,Nimish Shah3 , Sakshi Kothari4 ,
Soham Bhosale5 Department of Engineering, Science and Humanities
Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, SPPU, Pune
3. M.R.Gaonkar1, Prashant Palaskar2, Rishikesh Navandar3 Jawaharlal Nehru
engg college Aurangabad E-mail: mdhvnaik@gmail.com
4. Ahmed Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmed
5. R. Mukhopadhyay1, K. Divya Sree2, Rafath Saneeha3, Prajakta Kale5,
Umamah Iram6 Department of Genetics & Biotechnology, University College
for Women, Koti, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
6. Jefferson Hopewell1, Robert Dvorak2 and Edward Kosior2, Eco Products
Agency, 166 Park Street, Fitzroy North 3068, Australia 2 Nextek Ltd, Level 3,
1 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1HR, UK

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