Page 103 - rise 2017

Production of Biodegradable Foams from Tapioca Starch and Rice Husk Fibers by Baking
Process

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1
Fauziah Shaheen binti Sheh Rahman 1,a* , Norfathihah binti Anuar , Nurul Fatin Amirah binti Alias
and Nur Atiqah binti Maznan 1

1 Politeknik Nilai, Negeri Sembilan

a*
fauziahshaheen@gmail.com

Abstract
The use of petroleum-based foams as a food packaging causes serious hazards to the environment,
human and wildlife. The use of environmentally materials, which can be disposed directly into the
soil, can be a possible alternative to this solution. Therefore, the introduction of biodegradable foams
made from tapioca starch and rice husk fibers (RHF) were prepared by baking process. The produced
foams were characterized by using physical analysis, mechanical analysis, and biodegradability using
soil burial degradation test. All foams were between light brown to dark brown in appearance and
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presented thickness between 4.96 and 5.04 mm, and densities between 0.062 and 0.069 g/cm . At the
fiber content of 30% gave highest tensile strength (142.8 N). In soil burial test, a rapid degradation
occurred for all the foams in the initial 12 days and the foams were 100% compositing. As a
conclusion, the development of biodegradable foams in this study may represent a potential
application in future to be used as food packaging.
Keywords: Biodegradable; baked foams; tapioca starch; rice husk fibers

Introduction
Currently, the most part of raw material used for packaging are from petroleum-based, such as
polyethylene and polystyrene. These types of packaging are used in such a wide range of applications
because they are uniquely capable of offering many different properties such as inexpensive, ease of
processing, durability and resistance to chemicals [1]. Despite of their variety of uses in our day to
day life, petroleum-based plastics have some harmful effects to human, wildlife and environment.
They are hydrophobic materials not allowing microbial action and, therefore, it can take up to one
hundred years to degrade only a few grams of plastics (such as polyethylene) under normal
environmental condition [2] and this causes uncontrolled disposal and waste management which lead
to environmental problems. Besides, it can kill wildlife if ingested [3].
In order to reduce the negative impact of non-degradable petroleum-based plastics, research
works are in progress to develop alternative packaging materials which are renewable, abundant,
environment-friendly and biodegradable. Some previous studies have shown that heating starch-water
mixtures under pressure in closed molds can produce starch foams [1][3][4][5][6].However, materials
made of starch still have many disadvantages like brittle, poor mechanical properties and high
moisture adsorption, thus requiring further treatment or addition of other ingredient like plasticizer,
polymers, fibers or other additives as a way to improve the properties of the foams.
The reinforcement of natural fibers such as coir, coconut, sisal, bagasse, jute and hemp can
improves the strength, flexibility, elongation at break and water resistant of starch-based composite
foams [1][3][5][6][7][8][9]. Natural fibers are derived from renewable resources; degrade faster than
synthetic fibers and minimizing environmental pollution.
Thus, this study consists on the preparation of foams based on tapioca starch, rice husk fiber
and glycerol as additives using a baking process. It was also aimed to assess the effect of varying the
content of RHF on the physical, mechanical properties and biodegradability of the foams.

Methodology
Materials
Tapioca starch brand Cap Kapal ABC was purchased at local supermarket in Bandar Enstek, Negeri
Sembilan. Rice husk was purchased from Bernas Sdn Bhd, Selangor. The soil used for the
biodegradability test was taken from the field nearby the Nilai Polytechnic’s campus.