PRODUCTION OF COMPOSTABLE PLASTICS

USING CORN STARCH

A Research Study

Submitted to:

Ms. Ma. Christina Salomeo

Researchers:

Angelica Biñas

Kishia Mae Depita

Jellian Bailingo

Xavier Louis Naelgas

Romar Jan C. Espeja

 Chapter I so that it becomes part of the

land. Bacteria, fungi and other

Introduction
decomposers break down dead
Background of the Study
organisms in a natural process that

Plastic pollution has become one keeps dead materials from covering

of the most pressing environmental the planet. As a researcher of

issues, as rapidly increasing compostable plastic made from fish

production of disposable plastic waste once said, “I didn’t want to

products overwhelms the world’s use virgin natural materials so I

ability to deal with them, challenged myself with starting

(National Geographic, 2019). with a waste stream. For me a good

Plastic waste are very dominant in design is something that bridges

our environment and these are the the gap between behaviors, business

side effects of technology advances and our planet,” (Lucy Hughes,

wherein nature has lack of ability University of Sussex 2019).While

to decompose what the human most biodegradable substances

creates. Non-biodegradable waste consist of animal and plant

can last for centuries and cause material, humans can create

environmental problems that affect products that decompose, such as

more than just the land. Products egg cartons and paper bags.

that do not decompose naturally may Our study focuses on what our
reside in landfills and take up environment is encountering right
space much longer than now, and one of the solutions is
biodegradable materials. producing a compostable plastic, to

When something is biodegradable, somehow lessen the pollution caused

soil, air, or moisture decompose it by non-biodegradable waste that

suffocates and polluting our nature 1.) Corn (Zea mays) starch

even before, now and throughout the cannot be utilized in the

future. production of compostable plastic.

Statement of the Problem 2.) There is no treatment that

has a great potential for the

This study was conducted to
production of compostable plastic.
solve the problem of inorganic

plastic waste. Further this was

conducted to determine if corn (Zea

mays) starch has a potential to be

utilized in production of

compostable plastic. It

specifically aims the following;

1. To determine if corn (Zea

mays) starch can be used to

make compostable plastics.

2. To determine the properties of

corn (Zea mays) starch as

compostable plastic in terms

of the following;

a. Flexibility

b. Durability

c. Odor

d. Texture

Null Hypothesis
 Significance of the Study This study focuses the

effectiveness of corn as a
In this study, the researchers
component in making compostable
will make a compostable plastic
plastic. Also, this study would be
using cornstarch that is durable,
able to make use of cornstarch in
eco-friendly and safe to the health
producing compostable plastics by
of the people that would be used to
using the obtained starch from the
be a good alternative plastic.
endosperm of the kernel, we will be
School. This study will help to
able to find alternative sources of
minimize plastic trash.
starch for compostable plastic

YES-O Organizations. The result production.

of this study will help the Some limitations of

organizations in solving the compostable plastic in this study
problem of the environment (plastic is that the plastic cannot be
trash reduction). recycled because this type of

Future and Present Researchers. compostable plastic can’t be re-

This study would benefit both moulded into other shapes.

present and future researchers that Definition of Terms

need basis for their studies.
Amylose. A component of
Students. In this study will starch characterized by its
help students to practice the straight chains of glucose units
simple RRR (Reduce, Reuse & and by the tendency of its aqueous
Recycle) and also help the solutions to set to a stiff gel.
environment in a proper way.
Bio-plastic. Are plastic
Scope and Limitation Of the Study materials produced from renewable

biomass sources, such as vegetable

fats and oils, corn starch, straw, Plastic pollution. Is the

woodchips, sawdust, recycled food accumulation of plastic objects and

waste, etc. particles in the

Earth's environment that adversely
Compostability. The quality of
affects wildlife, wildlife habitat,
being compostable.
and humans.
Corn Starch. Finely ground
Starch. An odorless, tasteless
corn flour, used as a thickener in
white substance occurring widely in
cooking.
plant tissue and obtained chiefly
Decomposers. Are organisms
from cereals and potatoes.
that break down dead or decaying
Silanes. It is a colourless,
organisms, and in doing so, they
pyrophoric gas with a sharp,
carry out the natural process
repulsive smell, somewhat similar
of decomposition.
to that of acetic acid.
Durability. Is the ability of
Texture. The way that
a physical product to remain
something feels when you touch it.
functional, without requiring

excessive maintenance or repair, Zea Mays. Known as maize or

when faced with the challenges of corn, is a plant in the grass

normal operation over its design family (Poaceae) cultivated for its

lifetime. seeds which are eaten as a human

staple crop and used in animal

Flexibility. Capable of
feed.
bending or being bent.

Odour. A quality of something

that simulates the olfactory organ.

 Chapter II carbohydrate extracted from the

endosperm of corn. This white

Review of Related Literature
powdery substance is used for many
This chapter deals with the
culinary, household, and industrial
related literature and studies and
purposeswhich can be a great
other relevant readings from books
foundation on production of a
and abstracts in which the
biodegradable plastic.
researchers deemed helpful in
Related Studies
attaining an in depth discussion of

the questions posted in this study. In 2015, a study conducted in

India about organic plastic derived

Conceptual Literature
renewable raw material like starch
This study claims that corn
extracted from rice water or
(Zea mays) starch can be used as a
kanjivellam, a “Malayalam word”.
main ingredient in production of
This rice water is very rich in
compostable plastic, plastics
starch which is the main ingredient
derived from renewable biomass
of our plastic. The extracted
sources, such as corn starch,
starch from Kanjivellam is
straw, woodchips, food waste, etc.
compostable which can break down in
With the help of glycerol, a
either anaerobic or aerobic
colorless, odourless, viscous
environments. Then, this starch is
liquid that is sweet-tasting and
dried using drying agents like
non-toxic substance found in
Sodium Sulphate, Magnesium
glycerine, can accumulate the
Sulphate, Calcium Chloride.
possibility of compostable plastic
Flexibiliser and Plasticizer such
production. Cornstarch, sometimes
as sorbitol and glycerine are added
referred to as corn flour, is a
to it to make Thermoplastic Starch.
Penetrating water-repellent synthesized film. The results were

chemicals such as reactive silanes in the form of bioplastic sheet and

and siloxane resins are used to tested for characteristics in

make it waterproof. The accordance with the mechanical

characteristics (strength, tensile) properties from bioplastic which

of the material can be tailored to are among others of tensile

specific needs by other chemical strength, elongation and

additives such as vinegar. These biodegradability. The best result

blends are used for industrial is bioplastic sheet with the

applications and are also addition of 0.5% polyethylene

compostable (Kanjivellam, 2015). glycol plasticizers have better

mechanical properties with a

tensile test value of 312.93 MPa

In March 2019, a study (31.91 kgf/mm), an extension of
published online from Indonesia 5.09% and the rate of degradation
about making bio-plastics from in the soil 0,02gram / day. This
cassava skin by fermentation. research successfully produced
Cassava skin contains starch which bioplastic sheet by Nata method
is the main material of making using 0,5% polyethylene glycol as
biodegradable polymer. They plasticizer and cellulose from
extracted the starch using the nata fermentation skin cassava starch
method and fermented it with with (Lisa Adhania, MuhamadSofian, and
Acetobactervylinum bacteria and ElviKustiyah, 2019).
given plasticizer addition. The
Recently, another study
addition of a plasticizer is
conducted last October 2019 in
intended to improve the quality of
Europe about making biodegradable
the mechanical properties of the
and compostable plastics. technical uses. According to DIN

Bioplastics starch was the raw 54900, TPS® bioplastics are

material used and process using completely biodegradable and

technology forming Thermoplastic compostable (Hughes, 2019).

starch or TPS. The TPS was blended

Synthesis
with hydrophobic biodegradable

polymers to form the BIOTEC. Latest For overall summary, and as for the

development results are reaction- past studies, the production of

compounding process technologies to compostable plastic or bio-plastic

produce TPS® derivatives and is plausible. Plastic waste and

starchesters in a continuous plastic pollution is really a

extrusion process. Applications for challenge for us and makes us

TPS®bioplastic granules BIOPLAST responsible for it. As to answer

are film extrusion and injection our responsibility for our own

moulding. The BIOFLEX film has mess, this existing problem helps

mechanical properties, such as PE us, researchers, generate a new way

films are opaque to transparent, to lessen the mentioned pollution.

printable, sealable, shrinkable and Our study focuses on its

can be colourized. BIOFLEX is production. We discovered, as for

permeable to vapour and has good the past studies, that the very

barrier properties to oxygen. important ingredient in this

BIOFLEX can be used in the same way production is the starch. The

as conventional foils, for instance starch that were going to use

for garbage sacks, shopping bags, should be fit to make a production

packing up, nets for food of compostable plastic. There are

packaging, diapers, agricultural or different versions of starch and

where the starch was extracted.

Rice starch, cassava starch, potato

starch, and other plants that

produces starch. By the help of

other ingredients, the past studies

were then able to produce bio-

plastics and create another

solution to the existing conflict.

It really is necessary to aid our

Earth’s pollution caused by

plastics. It’s really a great help

as bio-plastics don’t stay too long

in the process of decomposition.

Plastics like cellophanes,

Styrofoam, plastic bottles, etc.

may take decades to centuries till

they finally decompose while bio-

plastic’s decomposition may take

only weeks until they finally

decompose through the help of

starch and other natural chemicals.

 CHAPTER III Treatment C consists of 12.5 g

of cassava starch, 5 ml of
METHODOLOGY
vinegar, 5 ml of glycerin, and
This presents the methods and
37.5 ml of water. Then it will
procedures which were used in the
be quickly pour onto the
study. This included the research
aluminum foil and let it cool
design, locale of the study,
down for a couple of seconds.
materials, tools and equipments,
When the time is up, it will be
procedural design, general
remove from the equipment and
procedure, research instrument and
dry it under the heat of the sun
parameters for analysis.
for several hours. The mixture

Research Design will be then collected for

The researchers will be using testing and collection of data.

the developmental design where Locale of the Study

the result and findings of the

This study will be conducted at
experiment required few
Jose Diva Avelino Jr. National High
components to create compostable
School during the second semester
plastic with simple materials
of School Year 2019 – 2020.
and a few household appliances.
Materials, Tools and Equipment
Treatment A consists of 37.5 g

of cassava starch, 5 ml of The materials that will be

vinegar, 5 ml of glycerin, and used in creating a compostable

12.5 ml of water, Treatment B plastic made of cassava starch are

consists of 25 g of cassava the following:

starch, 5 ml of vinegar, 5 ml of
 Cassava starch
glycerin, and 25 ml of water,
 Glycerine (Glycerol)
  Vinegar glycerol, food coloring, vinegar

and water.
 Water

 Measuring cup B. Measuring the ingredients

 Measuring spoons The measured amount of the

 Food coloring (optional) ingredients will be done after

cooking. A weighing scale will be

Procedural Design
used to measure the cassava starch
COLLECTION OF MATERIALS
and a measuring cup and measuring

spoon will be used to measure the

PREPARATION OF CASSAVA STARCH vinegar, glycerin and water. Three

treatments with different

MEASURING THE INGREDENTS proportions will be prepared in the

study. In order to determine the

COOKING OF MIXTURES right mix, three treatments with

different concentrations will be

DRYING OF COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC employed. Treatment A consists of

37.5 g of cassava starch, 5 ml of

General Procedure vinegar, 5 ml of glycerin, and 12.5

ml of water. Treatment B consists

A. Collection of Materials
of 25 g of cassava starch, 5 ml of
Cassava (Manihot esculenta)
vinegar, 5 ml of glycerin, and 25
starch will be bought from a
ml of water. Treatment C consists
nearest store of the researchers at
of 12.5 g of cassava starch, 5 ml
Hipona, Pontevedra, Capiz. The main
of vinegar, 5 ml of glycerin, and
materials that will be used in this
37.5 ml of water.
study were cassava starch,
C. Preparation for the making of it cool down for a couple of

compostable plastic from cassava seconds. When the time is up, it

starch will be remove from the

equipment and dry it under the

1. First, measure the amount
heat of the sun for several
of cassava starch in,
hours. The mixture will be then
water, glycerol and vinegar
collected for testing.
in a measuring spoon.

2. Then dissolve in a E. Disposal

casserole.
To avoid the hazard in the
3. Stir in a low heat until a
environment of the eco-plastic made
sticky paste is formed.
by the researchers, proper disposal
4. Remove the starch-based
method will be employed by the
mixture from burner.
researchers. The compostable
5. After mixing all materials,
plastic made up of cassava starch
the mixture will be poured
will be collected and composted
into the aluminum foil and
through bio waste collection. After
let it cool down for a
processing, the bio-waste used will
couple of seconds.
be composted directly.
6. Then, air-dry the mixture
Research Instruments
for hours until a plastic-
As a developmental research,
like will be form from the
the researchers used developmental
cooked mixtures.
approach as the instrument to
D. Drying the compostable plastic gather the needed information. It

After the cooking process, the was composed of two parts. In first

mixture will be quickly pour part, gathered information from the

onto the aluminum foil and let stress test, flexibility test and
questionnaires while the second

part is composed of the results

from the tensile test, flexibility

test, questionnaire and other

necessary data for the study.

Data Gathering Procedure

The mixture will be quickly

pour onto the aluminum foil and let

it cool down for a couple of

seconds. When the time is up, it

will be remove from the equipment

and dry it under the heat of the

sun for several hours. The data

were then gathered after all the

resulting products were dried and

were subjected to stress test and

flexibility test using different

amount of weight or force in order

to determine which type of mixture

is stronger and capable of

withstanding a greater amount of

force.