Page 16 - KVIS Book

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