Cassava (Mahinot esculenta) Starch as an Effective Component for Ideal Biodegradable

Plasayaytic

Researcher:
James Ray V. Buray

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in Research

Alubijid National Comprehensive High School
Alubijid , Misamis Oriental
August 2018

Mr. Ian Franco G. Vacalares

Research Adviser
 ABSTRACT

The purpose of this experiment is to be able to help the society with its environmental issues
by creating biodegradable plastic out of cassava starch.
The procedures that the researcher used in this investigatory project were all experimental and
were based on scientific method. The researcher used environment friendly materials which can
be made into biodegradable plastics that will not harm the environment and will not add to
pollution problems.
The researcher conclude that cassava starch is one of the most promising raw material for the
development of biodegradable plastics due to its availability in large quantity, its relatively low
cost and its biodegradability.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researcher would like to acknowledge the people who help the researcher to conduct the
study. First, our almighty God for giving us intelligence, strength, and courage to conduct this
study, secondly the researcher cousin and the researcher parents for the financial and moral
support. Mr. Ian Francisco G. Vacalares for teaching and giving us some advices about the
product and papers.

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 Chapter 1
Introduction
Background of the Study
The cassava (Mahinot esculenta) root is a long tapered, with a firm, homogeneous flesh
encased in detachable rind, about 1mm thick, rough, and brown outside.
(Http://ww8.edu-science.com)
Cassava starch is composed of two components such as amylose and amylopectin. Since are
plastic are made of polymer starch is a favourable and is used in this research because it is
renewable and cheap. (www.studymode.com)
Plastic bags and bottle, like all forms of plastic create significant environmental and
economic burdens. Biodegradable plastic are much better choice than non- biodegradable plastic
break down faster, can be recycled easier and is non- toxic. With these characteristics of
biodegradable plastic, we could help save lives and environment as well.
(www.googlescholar.com)
Cassava appears to have originated in Brazil and Paraguay, but has spread throughout
tropical trees areas of south and Central America long before the arrival of Culumbos. Today it
is one of the most important food crops of tropical countries throughout the world and rank as
the 6th most important food crop worldwide, even though in western countries it is little known
or used. (http://www.sacredearth.com)

Statement of the Problem

1. How durable is the Biodegradable?
2. How flexible is the Biodegradable?

Objectives of the study

1. Determine the durability of the biodegradable plastic.
2. Determine the flexibility of the biodegradable plastic.

Significance of the study

This study could help to reduce plastic pollution, in our environment. This study also help
you to create your own style and for you not to buy expensive ones.

Scope and Delimitation

This study will take 48 hours of making the product, depending on the weather and one
week as time I observe of the product.
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Definition of Terms
Biodegradable- Capable of being slowly destroy or broken.
Cassava- A tropical plants with thick roots.
Amylose- A component of starch
Polymers- A chemical compound that is made of small molecules.
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Chapter 2
Review of Related Literature

The cassava plant is a peremial woody that grows from about one to three meters in height.
The leaves are palmate (hand-shaped) and dark green in color. The coned shaped roots are
starched organs covered with a paper bark and a pink to white cortex. The flesh changes from
bright white to soft yellow (www.prezi.com)
The cassava plant is some unusual, and even infamous, because both the roots and leaves can
be toxic to consume. The toxicity of the cassava is due to the presence of cyanogenic glucosides
(compounds and cyanide and glucose) which liberate hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a potent toxin
where the plant tissues is damage. Cyanogenic glucosides are found throughout the plant and in
all varieties of Cassava . Varieties referred to as “sweet”, or low cyanide, have low levels of
cyanogenic in the flesh of the root and can be peeled and cooked like other root vegetables.
Those referred to as” bitter”, or high cyanide, have higher levels of cyanogenic throughout the
roots (peel and flesh) and require more extensive processing and preparation techniques ; high
cyanide roots can be processed remove almost all traces of cyanide containing compounds. Many
farmers prefer to cultivate the high cyanide varieties for reasons that are not entirely clerar.
(http://www.encyclopedia.com)
The concepts of biodegradable plastic and polymers was first introduced in the 1980s.
Bacteria that could break down plastics were developed as early as 1975, when team of Japanese
scientist discovered a strain of flavobacterium living in pods containing waste water from a
nylon factor. At that time two strain of bacteria were developed to break down nylon.
Flavobacterium and pseudomonas were not known to have existed before the invention of nylon
in 1935. (http://craftechind.com)
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Chapter 3
Methodology

Materials
 100 grams of cassava
 380 mL of water
 10 mL of Glycerine
 molder
 pot
 stove

Procedure
Get hold of a 50 grams cassava starch, put the cassava starch into the pot. Put 380 mL of
water, 40 mL of vinegar, and 10 mL of glycerine. Mix it properly. Open the stove and mix it
again until it becomes jelly like. put it into the molder, Let it dry under the sun until plastic is
made. Repeat the procedures on your next trial/s.
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Flow Chart

Get hold of a 2 tbsp. Put the cassava Put 4 tbsp. full

full of cassava starch starch into the pot of water

Mix it properly
Put 1tbsp. full of vinegarPut 1tbsp. full of Glycerine
Open the stove and mix Put it into any kind of hard Let it dry under
it again until it becomes flat metal material the sun until
jelly like plastic is made

Chapter 4
Results and Discussions

Table 1 Characteristics of the Biodegradable Plastic

Trial Characteristics

1 Very soft, sensitive, can be damage easily

and break into pieces

2 Not really hard, elastic, more like a rubber

than a plastic

3 Plastic-like, less breaking, flexible, soft,

biodegradable plastic
 Table 1 shows the characteristics of biodegradable plastic on 3 trials. On the first trial of the
study, the result of the product was not plastic because its characteristics are sensitive, very soft
and can easily break into pieces. On the second trial, the result of the product was not plastic also
due to its rubber-like characteristics. On the third trial, this trial gave the best result among all of
them, its characteristics are plastic-like, lees breaking, flexible, soft, and can be seen as a
biodegradable plastic as shown in the table.

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Chapter 5
Summary, Conclusion, Recommendation

Summary
Based on the findings the researcher have the result that could answer the following
questions:

1. How durable is the biodegradable plastic?

- It won’t break easier because it is flexible.
2. How flexible is the biodegradable plastic?
- It can form a circle when you fold it.

Conclusion
Based on the summary of findings, the researcher conclude that the cassava (Mahinot
esculenta) has an effect as a substance for making biodegradable plastic. The cassava starch can
be the main component of the biodegradable plastic.

Recommendation
 The researcher recommend to everyone that we should dominate making the
biodegradable plastic so that we can reduce plastic pollution at least. The researcher also
recommend to use a proper type of molder to get the desire shape of plastic.

Bibliography

Http://ww8.edu-science.com
www.studymode.com
www.googlescholar.com
http://www.sacredearth.com
www.prezi.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com
http://craftechind.com

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Table of Contents

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………….......1
Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………………..2
Chapter 1
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………3
Definition of Terms………………………………………………………………………………4
Chapter 2
Review of Related Literature……………………………………………………………………5
Chapter 3
Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………..6
Flow Chart……………………………………………………………………………………….7
Chapter 4
Result and Discussion………………………………………………………………………........8
Chapter 5
Summary, Conclusion, Recommendation……………………………………………………...9