Diego S. Anabo, Lloyd Edric D. Blancaflor, Princess Monic Q. Velasco (April 2015)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Plastic is the source of most of the world’s solid waste today. Because of this, scientists have been developing different materials, specifically biodegradable plastics to reduce the effects of non-biodegradable plastics. This study aimed to develop a starch-based bioplastic polymer from Latundan banana (Musa acuminata x balbisiana) pseudo-stem. The isolation of starch from the seudo-stem was based on the study of Riley et.al 2006 with some modifications. The percent degradability was obtained using the Total Organic Carbon test. Approximately 0.02g of the bioplastic was used to perform the test. The produced bioplastic polymer had an uneven and lumpy texture with little bubbles on the surface and was light brown in color. Even without proper tensile strength testing, it appeared that the bioplastic could not be easily broken on its first ripping. The mean plus-minus standsrd deviation results showed that the percent carbon has a range of 23.14% to 36.64% and the percent organic matter has a range of 39.89% to 63.17%. Its degradability which is 51.53% compares well with that of bioplastic from cassava starch with a degradability of 41.27%, polythene with a degradability of 10.33%, and paper with a degradability of 85.99%. The percent degradability results of the starch-based bioplastic polymer from Latundan banana (Musa acuminata x balbisiana) pseudo-stem may prove possible use of bioplastic from banana pseudo-stem in the future.
Keywords: bioplastic, starch, banana pseudo-stem, Musa acuminata x balbisiana, Percent degradability, Total Organic Carbon test