CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

The world needs your help, by saving it from pollution and harmful chemicals that could
destroy the planet. Plastic is known to be a destruction to the environment: it threatens the
wildlife, pollutes the air, endangers the marine life, etc. To people, plastic can be useful through
using it as a storage, bag, and packaging. But, think about the world! The Earth is begging to be
helped and saved. That’s why a group of researchers constructed a comparative study on how to
create an alternative solution to plastic.
The researchers conducted a comparative study on how to formulate the perfect substitute
to the usual plastic-a biodegradable plastic. The “bio-plastic” is being experimented by the group
on which ingredient would be best to use in making it; either cassava starch or cornstarch are
observed to fit the ideal ingredient.

B. Statement of the problem

The study aims to help and contribute to the efforts of saving our environment from
pollution. The study will raise awareness and encourage people to use bio-plastic by showing
them what bio-plastics are capable of, by doing so, the researchers will be able to produce and
share information to the public about which kind of bio-plastic is best to be massed produced for
future purposes.

This study aims to answer the following questions:

1. Which bio-plastic is more durable?

2. Which type of bio-plastic is easier to make in terms of accessibility of
ingredients?
3. Which type of bio-plastic is quicker to make?
4. Which bio-plastic degrades faster?
C. Hypothesis

 Both starches are almost pure, but since cassava starch is rich in amylopectin –
branched-chained structure of sugars - we hypothesized that it would create a
stronger plastic than the one made with cornstarch which is rich in amylose -
linear-chained structure of sugar.
 In terms of accessibility of ingredients, cornstarch made plastic would be easier
since it is more common and available in almost all markets, while cassava starch
is much harder to find since it is rarely used. In terms of production on the other
hand, cassava starch might be easier to make since it thickens at a lower
temperature due to the abundance of amylopectin.
 Due to the weak sugar bond we hypothesized that the cornstarch plastic will
degrade faster than cassava starch plastic.

D. Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will benefit the students and teachers by expanding their
knowledge about bio-plastics and hopefully, they would be able to use the information that they
will be acquiring in this study in helping with the efforts of conserving the nature. It will also be
beneficial to the teachers because it will serve as more knowledge and information they can pass
down to other students. It will benefit the society because this study can also serve us a guide to
help improve the environment by practicing proper waste disposal, lessening pollution, and
protecting life forms in this planet.

E. Scope and Limitation

This study will focus on comparing the factors of cornstarch biodegradable plastic and
cassava starch biodegradable plastic. The biodegradable plastics are compared to commercial
plastic as well. They are compared on their durability, degradation, and accessibility to the
public.
 The researchers are limited to creating the plastic without the use of machines considering
the biodegradable plastics will be homemade, they are also limited financially, and they won’t be
able to create any indestructible plastics.

F. Definition of terms

Bio-plastic – A type of biodegradable plastic derived from biological substances rather

than from petroleum.

Biodegradable – Capable of being slowly destroyed and broken down into very small
parts by natural processes.

Non-biodegradable - Incapable of being slowly destroyed and broken down into very
small parts by natural processes.

Starch – An odorless, tasteless white substance occurring widely in plant tissue and
obtained widely in plant tissue and obtained chiefly from cereals and potatoes. It is a
polysaccharide which functions as a carbohydrate store and is an important constituent of the
human diet.

Analyzing – to study closely and carefully and to take careful examination.

Comparing – To look at two or more things closely to decide which one is better and
differentiate each other.