Synthesis and characterization of eco-friendly bioplastic from low-cost plant resources

Abstract

Alarming rate of environmental pollution caused by single-use plastics has necessitated the search for developing sustainable yet, cost-effective alternatives. This study aimed to develop bioplastic films using combination of jackfruit waste flour and sago as a low-cost starch source. Three composite bioplastic films were developed using starch mix with lemon extract and water but with different cross-linkers: (1) PV (polylactic acid and crude palm oil), (2) AV (glycerol and crude palm oil), (3) PAV (polylactic acid, glycerol and crude palm oil). The formulated films' physical, chemical, mechanical and biological parameters were characterized. PV film showed the best tensile strength (TS) of 5.24 MPa and least elongation at break (EAB) of 3.49%, while PAV film had the least TS of 0.78 MPa with a maximum EAB (73.38%). FTIR analysis of films showed peak at 1736.3-1743.3 cm −1 indicating strong interaction of triglycerides (C=O stretching). In thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), all the films displayed gradual desorption occurring between 150 and 220 °C where the volatile compounds started to evaporate and around 300 °C the lower molecular weight compounds like plasticizer, cross-linker and other additives started to release out; pyrolysis of carbonated compounds occurred above 500 °C. PAV film displayed best thermal stability with half decomposition at 330 °C. Biodegradability of films was demonstrated through soil burial method and culturing of pure cultures of microorganisms in minimal media by providing the film as carbon source. Bioplastic films developed in this study using low-cost plant starch sources have displayed properties with potential application in food packaging industry.

Characterization and Parametric Study on Mechanical Properties Enhancement in Biodegradable Chitosan-Reinforced Starch-Based Bioplastic Film

“…Around 300 • C to ~500 • C, compounds with lower molecular weight such as plasticizer (glycerol) and additive (chitosan) were released as well as the degradation of starch which took place at 408 • C, as shown in Figure 12b. Beyond 500 • C, pyrolysis of carbonated compounds took place resulted in inorganic materials in the remaining residue samples [60].…”

Jackfruit Starch Based Blends with Polyvinylpyrrolidone: Preparation, Structural Characterization, and Biodegradable Properties

“…The thickness of films was determined by using the method of Krishnamurthy and Amritkumar et al [ 1 ] The thickness of films was measured by a handheld screw gauge (ssu 0–25 mm micrometer screw gauge). The bioplastic films produced were cut into 2 cm × 2 cm dimension for testing.…”

“…Plastics are widely used because of their versatility and excellent processability, thermal, and mechanical properties. [ 1 ] Currently, the production of these materials is anticipated to be in excess of 300 million tons, with packaging accounting for around 39.6% of overall demand for plastics. [ 2 ] However, the biggest environmental disadvantage of plastic materials is that they do not easily decompose in the environment and hence litter the environment.…”

Sustainable Management of Organic Waste and Recycling for Bioplastics: A LCA Approach for the Italian Case Study

“…At present, most bioplastic documents are in materials and environmental sciences (about 50% of the total) as well as chemical engineering, partly reflecting efforts to advance and improve existing technologies, trying to reconcile them with economic forerunners. For example, Krishnamurthy and Amritkumar (2019) [22] developed bioplastic films from jackfruit flour and sago as a cheap starch source, resulting in a product with good properties to be potentially applied in food packaging. Additionally, Arumugam et al (2020) [23] used cashew apple juice (CAJ) as a carbon source to produce PHA to reduce its production costs.…”