FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF STARCH BASED BIOPLASTICS WITH PALM OIL ADDITION

In this work, starch-based bioplastics in advancing its properties were positively arranged with the addition of palm oil. Starch-based bioplastics were produced by dry blending method and compression technique with mixing starch and glycerol (3:1, w/w) then adding palm oil at various concentration (0%, 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% w/w). Morphology of bioplastics presented that palm oil wrapped bioplastics granules which influenced hydrophobicity properties of bioplastics compared by increasing contact angle of bioplastics from 45.950 (0% of palm oil) to 61.980 (5% of palm oil). This result indicated that the addition of palm oil could develop the properties of bioplastics to hold absorbing water molecules. Moreover, the melting point of bioplastics also affected shifting temperature from 1150 C to be 1000 C that could save the energy needed during heating process. FTIR analysis showed that C=O group at wavenumber 1747 cm-1 was dependable the interaction between starch-glycerol and palm oil. Furthermore, the addition of palm oil would accelerate the biodegradation process. Although the mechanical properties of bioplastics have not increased, the addition of palm oil on bioplastics fabrication is an alternative to improve the characteristic of bioplastics, especially physical, thermal, hydrophobicity and biodegradation properties

EFFECTS OF STARCH-GLYCEROL CONCENTRATION RATIO ON MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF CASSAVA STARCH-BASED BIOPLASTICS

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different starch-glycerol concentration ratio on mechanical and thermal properties of cassava starch bioplastics. Bioplastics were prepared by mixing starch with glycerol at different starch-glycerol w/w ratio (2.5:1, 2.75:1, 3:1 and 3.5:1). Mechanical properties was evaluated by measuring tensile strength and elongation at break where thermal properties was assessed by thermogravimetric analysis to determine the glass transition temperature (Tg), melting temperature (Tm) and melting enthalpy (ΔHm) of bioplastics. Microstructure and chemical interactions in bioplastics were evaluated by SEM and FTIR. The surface hydrophobicity was determined by measuring the water contact angle. The increase of starch-glycerol concentration in bioplastics formed rough surface where the interaction of glycerol and starch molecules mainly occurred through hydrogen bonds. It also formed stronger and more rigid structure with the increase in tensile strength from 1.90 MPa to 2.47 MPa and the decrease in elongation at break from 8.55% to 5.92%. Furthermore, the increase of starch-glycerol concentration increased Tg from 37.5 ºC to 38.6 ºC, Tm from 96.3 ºC to 120.7 ºC and ΔHm from 100.4 J/g to 155 J/g. Moreover, surface contact angle of bioplastics was increased from 40.6º to 60.2º with the increase of starch-glycerol concentration ratio

THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RECYCLED-PLASTIC PELLETS OBTAINED FROM DISPOSABLE FACE MASK WASTES

THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RECYCLED-PLASTIC PELLETS OBTAINED FROM DISPOSABLE FACE MASK WASTES. The government policy to wear a face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased disposable face mask wastes. Thus, to reduce such wastes, it is necessary to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of disposable face masks wastes before the recycling process and the recycled products. In this study, physicochemical characterization of the 3-ply disposable face masks and the recycled plastic pellets after disinfection using 0.5% v/v sodium hypochlorite were evaluated. A set of parameters including the characterization of surface morphology by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), functional groups properties by a fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal behavior by a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile strength and elongation at break were evaluated. The surface morphological of each layer 3-ply disposable face mask showed that the layers were composed of non-woven fibers. The FT-IR evaluation revealed that 3-ply disposable face mask was made from a polypropylene. At the same time, the DSC analysis found that the polypropylene was in the form of homopolymer. The SEM analysis showed that the recycled plastic pellets showed a rough and uneven surface. The FT-IR, tensile strength and elongation at break of the recycled plastic pellets showed similarity with a virgin PP type CP442XP and a recycled PP from secondary recycling PP (COPLAST COMPANY). In summary, recycling 3-ply disposable face mask wastes to become plastic pellets is recommended for handling disposable face mask wastes problem

SYNTHESIS L-LACTIC ACID FROM FERMENTATION OF CASSAVA PULP BY USING TEMPEH INOCULUM

SYNTHESIS L-LACTIC ACID FROM FERMENTATION OF CASSAVA PULP BY USING TEMPEH INOCULUM. This study used cassava waste pulp as a fermentation substrate to produce lactic acid using a tempeh inoculum. Tempeh inoculum is a mixed culture of Rhizopus with Rhizopus oligosporus as the primary fungus. Lactic acid is an organic acid most widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical industries. One of the important uses of lactic acid is as a raw material for producing Polylactic Acid (PLA) biopolymers, namely polymers that can decompose naturally in a relatively fast time. The analysis was performed using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) method and the Box Behnken Design (BBD) experimental design with substrate concentration parameters, inoculum concentration, and incubation time on lactic acid. The fermentation process is carried out using a flask shaker at a temperature of 30 ºC, pH 6.0, and a rotational speed of 150 rpm. The optimum yield for lactic acid is 6.65 g/L. It was acquired at substrate 20 g/L, inoculum concentration 0.30 % (w/v) at an incubation time of 72 hours

Plastic Composites Using Mango Leaf Waste for Cost Effectiveness and Green Environment

Due to ecological considerations, natural biodegradation composites are widespread in tailoring plastics properties to specific needs. This work aims to demonstrate the available opportunity in using 100 and 140 mesh powdered mango leaf (PML) waste as a filler in polypropylene (PP) composites. Composites were produced via melt blending on a twin-screw internal mixer, with a different particulate size and a weight ratio of PML. Morphology, tensile, flexural, hardness, tear, puncture, thermal, and water absorption properties of the composites were assessed after 0, 1, 7, 14, and 28 days of water immersion. We found that the smaller particle size shows a better mechanical and water absorption of the composites, but not for thermal properties. The mechanical properties decreased with increasing PML content; however, these properties did not differ considerably from pure PP and other composites with natural filler. Besides, these polypropylene/PML composites showed excellent properties in water absorption

EFFECT OF AGAR AND KAPPA-CARRAGEENAN ON THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THERMO PLASTIC STARCH (TPS)

Effect of Agar and kappa-Carrageenan on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Thermo Plastic Starch (TPS) Thermoplastic starch needs to be blend with other materials because of its limited properties. In order to gain the desired properties, the interaction between the added component (filler, plasticizer, second polymer, etc) must be concerned as it can affect the performances of the final product. Thermoplastic starch has been successfully made with mixing and compression molding with the addition of agar and kappa-carrageenan. The effect of the added material has been studied with FTIR, Tensile, DSC, and TGA to investigate their mechanical and thermal properties. The FTIR spectrum has shown the shifting around the methyl group (C-H), a carboxyl group (C-O), and a hydroxyl group (O-H). Thermal analysis results presented different patterns in melting and degradation behavior. The tensile strength value did not show significant improvement with the presence of agar and kappa-carrageenan. It is shown that the addition of agar and kappa-carrageenan affects thermal behavior but does not significantly impact the mechanical properties.

Fabrication And Characterization Of Starch Based Bioplastics With Palm Oil Addition

In this work, starch-based bioplastics in advancing its properties were positively arranged with the addition of palm oil. Starch-based bioplastics were produced by dry blending method and compression technique with mixing starch and glycerol (3:1, w/w) then adding palm oil at various concentration (0%, 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% w/w). Morphology of bioplastics presented that palm oil wrapped bioplastics granules which influenced hydrophobicity properties of bioplastics compared by increasing contact angle of bioplastics from 45.950 (0% of palm oil) to 61.980 (5% of palm oil). This result indicated that the addition of palm oil could develop the properties of bioplastics to hold absorbing water molecules. Moreover, the melting point of bioplastics also affected shifting temperature from 1150 C to be 1000 C that could save the energy needed during heating process. FTIR analysis showed that C=O group at wavenumber 1747 cm-1 was dependable the interaction between starch-glycerol and palm oil. Furthermore, the addition of palm oil would accelerate the biodegradation process. Although the mechanical properties of bioplastics have not increased, the addition of palm oil on bioplastics fabrication is an alternative to improve the characteristic of bioplastics, especially physical, thermal, hydrophobicity and biodegradation properties

THE INFLUENCE OF COMPOSITION OF CNT (CARBON NANOTUBE) ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BIOPLASTIC MADE FROM CASSAVA STARCH

Bioplastics are starch-based polymers that are easily degraded by microorganisms, so they can be used as an alternative to the use of conventional plastics. In this research, bioplastics made from cassava starch was made using glycerol as plasticizer and used MWCNTs (Multi-Wall CNTs) type CNT as reinforcement with variations in the composition of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%. Bioplastics are made with a dry method (dry blending) with stages of pre-mixing, mixing, hot press and cold press. Characteristics of bioplastic starch/CNT include tensile strength, biodegradation and morphological. The test results show that the addition of CNT composition affects the mechanical properties of bioplastics. The optimum value of tensile strength occurred in the addition of 2% CNT at 13.52 MPa. Biodegradable test results using the Aspergillus niger mushroom prove that bioplastic starch/CNT can be degraded well. The results of morphological characteristics in the form of SEM results showed that 3% bioplastic starch / CNT had cracks and resulted in decreased tensile strength. FTIR test results indicate the presence of a new functional group C≡C because of the addition of CNT