BIO-PLASTIC: Potato Starch as an Effective Component in a Biodegradable Plastic

ALEISHEM JUENET M. ADRIATICO

FRANCHESCA JOYCE A. ALBA
ASHLEE NICOLE SHANE B. GARCIA
8-Franklin
(S.Y. 2018-2019)

A Proposed Study in Research II

Oriental Mindoro National High School

March 20,2019

Mrs. MARIA ARLENE LANDICHO

Research Adviser
 RESEARCH PLAN

A. Rationale

The bio-plastic is a biodegradable plastic which is made from non-toxic, organic and eco-

friendly materials such as vinegar, water, glycerin, vegetable oil and the main component, the

potato starch. As we all know, plastics are one of the leading problems not only in some

countries, but it is one of the main crisis that the earth is going through because of the lifespan of

the plastic that lasts from 10-1000 years. This plastic crisis is the reason why the researchers has

decided to make a biodegradable plastic (bio-plastic) which can degrade faster than the usual or

the commercial plastic, mainly because the degradation time of the commercial plastic takes too

long to degrade or decompose which is a big problem. The bio-plastic contains glycerin- which

affects the flexibility of the plastic, vinegar-helps connecting the chains so that the plastic can be

formed, water- which mixes all the ingredients, vegetable oil- for baking needs and the main

ingredient, potato starch- which is the backbone of the study.

B. Trials/Expected Outcomes/ Hypothesis

There will be 1 trial and 7 set-ups in this study. Each set-up varies in different amount of

the ingredients in order to know what specific amount is needed to make a successful

biodegradable plastic or bio-plastic.

C. Methods and Procedures

The researcher will gather the following materials: potato starch, water, vinegar, glycerin,

vegetable oil, food coloring, stove, pan, microwave oven, spatula, measuring scoop, dropper, a

container that can be placed on the microwave oven and the commercial plastic. When the

materials are gathered, the researcher will add 30 g. of potato starch, 60 ml of water, 5 ml of

vinegar, 5 ml of glycerin, 5 ml of vegetable oil, and 3 drops of food coloring on the pan which is

placed on the top of the stove. After the mixture heats up, stir the mixture continuously until it

forms a paste-like substance for approximately 4-5 minutes. Then wait for the mixture to cool

down.

Using a bit of oil, the researcher will grease the container to be used so that the mixture

will not stick into the greased container. Scoop half of the mixture and spread the mixture thinly

into the greased container. After spreading the mixture, place the greased container with the

mixture in it into the microwave oven. The microwave oven is set to low temperature settings

and will be heated for 20 minutes.

Remove the heated mixture from the microwave oven. With the use of a knife, the

product will be cut in to a 2x2 (inches) size in a chopping board.

Before proceeding to the other tests of the product, getting the heat capacity should be conducted

first. After heating the mixture from the pan using the stove and forms a paste like-substance, the

mixture will be placed on the microwave oven which will be set with different temperatures and

time. Then the researcher will record the heat capacity that the product can handle.

To measure the tensile strength of the product, the metal clips will be used by clipping

the 2 upper parts of the product onto a clothesline (or anything that can be a possible alternative

of the object). The lower part of the product will be clipped by multiple metal clips so that the

researcher can record the maximum clipped metal clips that the product can hold.

As for the water absorbency, the product will be placed on a plastic cup which is filled by

a 75ml of water (the amount of water should cover the whole product). The product will be

observed for 24 hours and will record the changes of the product.

Lastly, for the degradation test the product will be placed on a container that doesn’t

cover the whole product. The researcher will replicate the product by 5 in order to add weight in

it. The product will be weighed by its initial weight, final weight and the weight of the product in

each day for 3 days. Then the researcher will record the data gathered.
 INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Plastics are commonly used materials that can be seen everywhere. We can find
plastics in home decorations at malls, cups, plates and utensils in parties, appliances and
furnitures at home and plastic bags that we use in carrying our items in the grocery store. Not
only that, there is still more ways in using plastics. But if these are not disregarded properly, it
can cause pollution and affect every living thing on earth.

Bioplastics are plastics that can be made out of common household products. These are to the
environment in that they contain no petroleum unlike usual plastics such as Tupperware etc. also
instead of taking about 100 years to fully decompose it only takes about 7. This is why we came
up this project, to prove that plastics can also be made by using a natural based, such as potato
starch, and by using this as the base we can make plastics that are biodegradable, to make a
product that would be safe for the environment. Potato plastic is a biodegradable material, made
of potato starch. This means that it will decompose to nutrients for the soil in only two months
when it ends up in the nature.The importance and the need of the bio-plastics are gradually
increasing for the reason it holds many advantages that can reduce and prevent pollution.
However, the bio-plastics have its limitation since the fragility and brittleness exhibits during the
thermoformation that hinders their potential for application. So in order to overcome this
problem, plasticizers are added to provide the necessary workability to biopolymers. (Adeodato
Vieira, Santos, Silva, &Beppu, 2011) Glycerin, is the type of plasticizer to be use in order to alter
the characteristic of the material. With the application of heat and mechanical treatment, starch
behaves like a thermoplastic when it is in the presence of a Plasticizer. Because it has the ability
to decrease tensile strength and elongation and can disrupts the starch chains causing reduction in
rigidity and increase chain mobility. Glycerol is a hydrophilic low molecular carbohydrate,
which it has the tendency to absorb water depending on the number of hydroxyl group present
and molecular weight of its structure. (Mehta, Darshan, &Nishith, 2014) Its role is to add
flexibility to the mixture.
In this study, the researchers would like to a biodegradable plastic that is made from a starch –
based material (which is the potato starch) that can contribute the concerns on environmental
problems, climate changes, pollution and green house gases. It is also benefits the potato starch
biodegradable plastic users for they can have a healthy and clean environment.

General Objective

To know the effectiveness of potato starch as a component in the bio-plastic.

Specific Objectives

1. To create an affordable and eco-friendly plastic

2. To help lessen the environmental problems.

3. To use potato starch which is beneficial in an effective and cheap way.

Statement of the Problem

1. What are the components of potato starch as main component in bio-plastic?

2. What is/are the exact amount of potato starch, water, vinegar, glycerin and vegetable oil?

3. What is the effectivity of potato starch as a main component in the bio-plastic in terms of:

1) Heat Capacity

2) Tensile strength

3) Water Absorbency

Formulation of the Hypothesis

1. If glycerin is used as a component in the bio-plastic, then the bio-plastic will be more
flexible.

2. If potato starch is an effective component in the bio-plastic, then the bio-plastic will
degrade faster than the commercial plastic.

3. If non-toxic component/s are used in the bio-plastic, then the bio-plastic will be more
eco-friendly
Significance of the Study

This study is significant for its ability to degrade faster than the commercial plastic. The
ingredients/materials used in the study are cheap/affordable and easy to find. The contents of this
study’s product are non-toxic and is environmental friendly.

Scope and Limitations

This study aims to create a plastic that is biodegradable and can degrade faster than the
commercial plastic. The outcome of the study is just a sample in order to test the possibility of
making the desire product. So, it is not intended to create a plastic material such as utensils, cups,
bottles and the like. This study is limited to the use of potato starch , the required amount of the
following: glycerin, water, vinegar, vegetable oil, the specific number of days and hours in
observing the heat capacity, tensile strength, water absorbency and the degradation time of the
product. This study is limited since the product can only be used once and is not suitable for
handling liquid.

Definition of Terms

Potatostarch- backbone of the plastic. The main ingredient for a biodegradable plastic.

Food Coloring- miscellaneous. Adds color to the bio-plastic.

Glycerin- adds flexibility to the bio-plastic.

Vegetable Oil- baking needs

Vinegar- breaks the starch chain.

Water- mixes up all the ingredients.

Conceptual Framework
 METHODOLOGY
Gathering of Materials

The researcher gathered the following materials: potato starch, water, vinegar, glycerin,
vegetable oil, food coloring, stove, pan, microwave oven, spatula, measuring scoop, dropper, a
container that can be placed on the microwave oven and the commercial plastic.

Adding and Mixing the Mixture

As the materials were gathered, the researcher added 30 g. of potato starch, 60 ml of water, 5 ml
of vinegar, 5 ml of glycerin, 5 ml of vegetable oil, and 3 drops of food coloring on a pan which is
placed on top of the stove. After the mixture heated, stir the mixture continuously until it formed
a paste-like substance for approximately 8-10 minutes. Then wait for the mixture to cool down.

Solidifying the Mixture

Using a bit of oil, the researcher greased the container to be used so that the mixture will not
stick into the greased container. Scoop half of the mixture and spread the mixture thinly into the
greased container. After spreading the mixture, the greased container with the mixture in it was
placed into the microwave oven. The microwave oven was set to low temperature settings and
was heated for 20 minutes.

Reshaping the Product

Remove the heated mixture from the microwave oven. With the use of a knife, the product has
been cut in to a 2x2 (inches) size.
Testing the Product

Heat Capacity

Before proceeding to the other tests of the product, getting the heat capacity should be conducted
first. After heating the mixture from the pan using the stove and forms a paste like-substance, the
mixture has been placed on the microwave oven which was set with different temperatures and
time.

Tensile Strength

To measure the tensile strength of the product, the metal clips are used by clipping the 2 upper
parts of the product onto a clothesline (or anything that can be a possible alternative of the
object). The lower part of the product has been clipped by multiple metal clips.

Water Absorbency

As for the water absorbency, the product has been placed on a plastic cup which is filled by a
75ml of water (the amount of water should cover the whole product). The product was observed
for 24 hours .

Degradation Test

For the degradation test the product has been placed on a container that doesn’t cover the whole
product. The researcher has replicated the product by 5 in order to add weight in it. The product
was weighed by its initial weight, final weight and the weight of the product in each day for 3
days. The researcher recorded the data gathered.
 FLOWCART
GATHERING OF MATERIALS

SOLIDIFYING THE MIXTURE

TESTING THE PRODUCT

•HEAT CAPACITY
•TENSILE STRENGTH
•WATER ABSORBENCY
•DEGRADATION TEST

RESULTS
DATA COLLECTION

CONCLUSION
References

Abolibda, T. Z. (2015). Physical and Chemical Investigations of Starch Based Bio-Plastics.

AdeodatoVieira, M. G., Santos, L. O., Silva, M. A., & Beppu, M. M. (March 2011). Natural-

based plasticizers and biopolymer films: A review. European Polymer Journal , Pages 254-263.

Cho, R. (2017, December 14). The truth about bioplastics. Retrieved from phys.org:

https://phys.org/news/2017-12-truth-bioplastics.html

Mehta, V., Darshan, M., & Nishith, D. (2014). Can A Strach Based Plastic Be An Option of

Environmental friendly Plastic? Journalof Global Biosciences, pp. 681-685.

Moncel, B. (2018, November 28). What is potato starch? Retrieved from thespruceeats.com:

https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-corn-starch-1328466

Rouse, M., & Haughn, M. (2014, January). bioplastic. Retrieved from WhatIs.com:

https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/bioplastic