Page 16 - KVIS Book
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ENS07I




               Optimized Conditions for Making Biodegradable Plastic for
               Further Application


               Nutnicha Kanjanapituk
               Kamnoetvidya Science Academy, Thailand
               Supervisor: Pimsiri Danphitsanuparn, Nareekarn Nakhamdee
               Email: 5900019@kvis.ac.th


               Banana peel is one of the organic wastes that can be used to create bioplastic, but the
               usage of the product is limited due to its lack of applicable properties. In the future,
               bioplastic could be an efficient substitution to normal plastic that is non-biodegradable
               and  cause  pollution  to  the  environment.  At  the  cafeteria  of  KVIS,  there  is  a  large
               quantity  of  banana  peels  of  Cavendish  bananas  (Musa  acuminata)  waiting  to  be
               disposed. This research aimed to optimize the conditions for the making of bioplastic
               from banana peels. Polymer of starch components in banana peels were processed to
               allow  plasticization  with  glycerol  as  a  plasticizer.  Ratios  of  additives  such  as
               hydrochloric acid, glycerol, copolymer and water were varied. Physical and mechanical
               properties of bioplastic samples were tested and analyzed. Simulations were carried
               out to predict their shelf-life. Their degradable ability was also studied by exposing to
               humidity  and  soil  organisms.  This  research  expects  that  banana  bioplastic  would  be
               used as an alternative material in plastic industry, as it has suitable characteristics for
               further applications such as molding into shapes and film formation.


               Keywords: bioplastic, banana peel, Musa acuminata, starch, polymer, glycerol,
                         plasticizer
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