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Feasibility Study of Producing Bioplastic From Flower Stalk of Musa Paradisiaca
Feasibility Study of Producing Bioplastic From Flower Stalk of Musa Paradisiaca
A Research Proposal
Submitted in the Partial Fulfillment of Requirements
For the Subject Research I
In The
Faculty of the Department of Science
February 2013
APPROVAL SHEET
and JOERELYN JOY P. RUEDAS, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
WAJAVINA N. CATACUTAN
Adviser
NENITA C. MANALASTAS
SSHT3 – Science Department
INTRODUCTION
By the end of the 20th century, we were living in what has been called the Age of
Plastics. Plastics have often been regarded as a symbol of waste and the contamination of
Earth for environmentalists. However, while this opinion is fairly widespread, there are
some voices of praise, as the French philosopher Roland Barthes said, “Plastics are the
first magical material that are ready for everyday use.” The economic importance of this
material is in fact huge. One of the negative qualities attributed to plastics is that they are
generally non-biodegradable (Frick, 2007). Because of this, many techniques had been
An estimated number of 4 trillion disposable plastic bags are made globally each
year. This presents a huge disposal problem, which only reusable, recyclable bags may
solve. Also, as the oil supplies worldwide dwindle, the long-term future of plastics may
are derived from renewable natural biomass sources such as corn starch and vegetable oil.
However, the use of corn, which is the principal raw material for the production
of bioplastics is greatly opposed, because corn is regarded as a staple food for many
people around the world, and global corn consumption raised by 4 percent in 2011
(Rattray, 2012). As a result, numerous studies are being conducted to determine the
potential properties of unused fruit and vegetable plant parts as promising starch-based
materials for bioplastics production to settle the morality issues related to corn plastics.
1) How much time does it take for the resulting bioplastic to biodegrade?
2) How can the resulting bioplastic from Musa paradisiaca compare with the
b) Tear Resistance
Plastics, like diamonds, are forever. The pollution brought by this so-called
“cancer-of-nature” is indeed alarming. Like the 196 countries in the Earth battling with
the plastic pollution, the Philippines is also struggling to get rid of the harmful effects it
brings the environment. So the search for biodegradable, compostable and bio-based
plastics began. However, the principal material for the bioplastic production, PLA
(Polylactic acid) comes from fermented corn starch among others. Therefore, resulting to
issues concerning the use of corn, a staple food crop, in the production process.
Conducting this study can therefore evaluate the potential properties of Musa
Given that Musa paradisiaca flower stalk is widely regarded as an unusable plant part,
the use of it for production may settle the morality issues concerning bioplastics and can
help in the further development of bioplastics from non-edible and unused plant
resources.
from the starch of Musa paradisiaca flower stalk and to identify the biodegradability,
tensile strength, percent elongation and tear resistance of the resulting product. This study
limits itself to the production of plastic with the flower stalk starch as an additive and
does not intend to determine the other properties of Musa paradisiaca for additional
purposes.
Definition of Terms
a. Bioplastics
of raw plant materials. They are mostly produced from renewable natural
- Musa Paradisiaca is the scientific term for the plantain, or cooking banana, a
c. Starch
e. Plastic Pollution
products to the point where they create problems for wildlife and their habitats
Musa paradisiaca
Musa paradisiaca is a banana variety widely known and grown around the world
(Mohapatra, 2010). The fruits are picked when they are unripe and starch-rich, but when
they ripen the starch turns into simple sugars. Musa paradisiaca is about 30 feet high and
produces green or greenish-yellow seedless fruits. The name "plantain" refers to Musa
paradisiaca l., which requires cooking before it is eaten (Ngo, 2012). The average
plantain is about 12 inches long and weighs about 9-3/4 ounces. And, in contrast to the
desert bananas like Cavendish, it is known to be starchier and less sweet (Grygus, 2012).
Plantain is native to Southeast Asia and India (Ngo, 2012). Moreover, the
Philippines, being a tropical country, is one of the top producers of this banana variety
The whole Musa paradisiaca plant can be used in numerous ways. As well as the
banana plantain waste materials, which are reportedly rich in nutrients and minerals.
There had been studies concerning that the floral stalk, which is regarded as a waste part
26%. This percentage only shows that the floral stalk possesses high potentials for
pharmaceutical, industrial, and food applications (Mohapatra, 2010). Therefore, from the
relatively huge amount of starch that can be extracted from the plantain flower stalk, its
raw plant materials (Shen, Worrell & Patel, 2009). They are similar to traditional plastics
in their application but the difference is that they are characteristically biodegradable in a
Bioplastics are mainly made from plant-derived starch. Such resources include
[mostly] corn, potatoes, and soybean. Bioplastics materials are said to be biodegradable
because of the fact that they can undergo degradation process when microorganisms act
on them eventually giving water, carbon dioxide gas, organic compounds such as
process for bioplastics is not complicated, economical and takes place in real time. The
fact that they are biodegradable explains why they have less impact on environment and
thus, have been used for widely in various sectors (Oku, 2005).
Bioplastics materials find various applications in the industrial sector due the
degree of various industrial products that can be derived from these materials. Bioplastics
products derived from starch materials finds more application than any other renewable
resources. This is because of its various properties suits the current market. They have a
the production of films, injection molded items and foams (Bastioli, 2001).
However, the bioplastic industry has been criticized for using edible agricultural
feedstock, mostly corn, to derive PLA (Polylactic acid) which is a main component in the
production. This resulted to some protests questioning the morality of turning edible food
into packaging (Royte, 2006). So, developments on the growing industry of bioplastics
production are going on to discover much promising materials for manufacture, hence,
Collection of Sample
Preparation of Sample
Plastic Formation
The Musa paradisiaca flower stalk samples that will be used in the study can be
Flower stalk of banana will be peeled, washed and cut into cubes. Four thousand
two hundred (4,200) grams of the cut flower stalk of banana will be steeped in 4.8 l of
0.3% NaOH solution at room temperature for 24 hours. It will be homogenized suing a
blender and passed through a 200- mesh sieve and will be treated again with 4.8 l of 0.3%
NaOH solution. The sample will be shaken continuously for three hours and will be
allowed to stand overnight. Cloudy supernatant will be drained off and the sediment will
be diluted again to 4.8 l of 0.3% of NaOH solution. The process will be repeated until the
supernatant becomes clear and gives negative reaction to the biuret test for protein. The
test WILL BE done by placing 2 ml of the sample in 2ml of 10% NaOH solution, and
then 1ml of 0.1m copper sulfate solution will be added to the mixture. Formation of blue
The starch will be suspended in distilled water and passed through a 200-mesh
sieve and will be repeatedly washed with distilled water until the supernatant no longer
shows a pink color with phenolphthalein. The starch will be collected by sedimentation
and filtration.
Plastic Formations
Different ratios of water, starch from flower stalk of banana, starch, PVA
(polyvinyl alcohol), glycerol, and vegetable oil will be prepared to determine the right
will be made of 20g of PVA, 200 ml water, 3g banana flower stalk starch, 6 ml vegetable
oil, 16 ml glycerol. Treatment 4 will be made of 20g of PVA, 200 ml water, 5g banana
flower stalk starch, 6ml vegetable oil, 16 ml glycerol. Treatment 5 will be made of 20g of
PVA, 200 ml water, 7g banana flower stalk, 6ml vegetable oil, 16 ml glycerol.
The glycerol and vegetable oil will be mixed and boiled using a hot plate of 60-80
C for 10-15 minutes to expoxidized. Water, flower stalk of banana and PVA will be
mixed and heated on a hotplate with temperature maintain at 60-80C until the mixture
become sticky. The mixture will be then removed from the hot plate and the mixture of
expoxidized glycerol and vegetable oil will be added. After mixing the material well, the
solution will be spread in the glass frame and the stirring rod will be use to level its
thickness. It will be then left overnight to be dried and will be cast off from the glass
frame.
Evaluation of Technical Properties
The plastic sheets that will be formed are conditioned and tested in a room
The technical properties that will be tested are tensile strength, percentage
Tensile Properties
Plastic sheets will be cut into uniform sizes and initial mean width and thickness
Each plastic strip will be mounted in the grips of the testing machine. Grips will
be tightened uniformly and firmly to prevent the plastic samples from slipping. Plastic
samples will be clamped so that the distance between the grips of the testing machine will
be 100 mm and the gauge marks will be centrally disposed between the grips. The
calibrated extensometer will be adjusted before application of stress. Speed of testing will
b. The distance between the gauge marks at yields, at maximum load break
Maximum tensile stress can be calculated at the offset yield point in the basis of
F= force in Newton
by the formula:
%=
Tear Resistance
The mean value of the thickness of the plastic will be measured, then the initial
separation of the grips will be set to 75mm. The plastics will be then clamped and aligned
in the grips so that it’s major axis coincides with an imaginary line joining the center of
the grip. The required speed of testing will be set in the machine and the load necessary
to propagate the tear through the entire unslit length of the plastic will be recorded. Tear
Tear Resistance =
chemical compounds, solutions, and common industrial products will be prepared for this
analysis.
Specimens from plastic sheet materials will be cut from a representative sample of
each treatment. Plastic sheets will be cut in form of bars 3 inches in length and 1 inch in
width. These plastic sheets will be then placed in petri dishes filled with reagents to be
totally immersed in the prepared reagents. The changes in appearances of each plastic
The plastic sheet produced from the different treatments were cut into the same
size (2“x2”), air-dried, and weighed. Six samples for each treatment will be prepared.
The initial weights of the plastic sheets were recorded. Destructive sampling will be
designed for the test. The plastic sheets sandwiched in 2 chicken wire sheets were buried
At five days interval, each plastic type will be collected, cleaned gently for
adhering soil particles and other debris, air-dried and re-weighed. Physical appearance
and characteristic of the plastic sheets collected as well as the change in weight were
noted.
The biodegradability test will be done for one month. Decomposition will be
measured in terms of loss in dry weights of the plastic sheets, and the rate of decay will
be calculated.
sheets. Rate of decay would be calculated based on the Weigart and Evans (1964)
equation as cited by Cuevas and Sajise (1978) as cited by Cuevas and Manaligod (1997).
Rate =
t = time in days
Statistical Tool
Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) is the research design that will be
used in the study. The study will be analyzed using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
CURRICULUM VITAE
Address: #291 Jacinto corner Valmonte St., San Vicente, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija
: Rossellene F. Paras
Educational Background
f. Pre-Elementary
Gapan South Central School
San Vicente, Gapan City
S.Y. 2003-2005
g. Elementary
dream to be."
Name: Aleah Syrille DR. Reyes
Educational Background
a. Pre-Elementary
Blessed Angels Christian School
Nieves, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija
S.Y. 2002-2004
Ambition: to be a psychiatrist
Philosophy in Life: “You only live once, but if you live it right, once is enough.”
Name: Jen Odessa Lobendina Constantino
Educational Background
b. Pre-elementary
Gapan North Central School
Gapan City, Nueva Ecija
S.Y. 2003-2005
c. Elementary
Gapan North Central School
Gapan City, Nueva Ecija
S.Y. 2006-2011
a. High School
Juan R. Liwag Memorial High School
Bayanihan, Gapan City
S.Y. 2011-Present
Ambition: to be a pediatrician
Philosophy in life: "In three words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life, it
goes on.
Name: Jheremy Mach Malaca Corpuz
Educational Background
a. Pre-Elementary
Gapan East Central School
San Lorenzo, Gapan City
S.Y. 2003-2005
b. Elementary
Gapan East Central School
San Lorenzo, Gapan City
S.Y. 2006-2011
c. High School
Juan R. Liwag Memorial High School
Bayanihan, Gapan City
S.Y. 2011-present
Philosophy in Life: “Life is like riding a bicycle, in order to keep its balance, you must
keep on going.”
Name: Marinelle Padilla Gaboy
Educational Background
a. Pre-elementary
Sto. Nino Elementary School
Gapan City, Nueva Ecija
S.Y. 2003-2005
b. Elementary
Gapan South Central School
Gapan City, Nueva Ecija
S.Y. 2005-2007 & 2009-2011
Ambition: to be an engineer
Educational Background
a. Pre-Elementary
Gapan North Central School
Gapan City, Nueva Ecija
S.Y. 2003-2005
b. Elementary
Gapan North Central School
Gapan City, Nueva Ecija
S.Y. 2005-2006
: Angelo G. Magpantay
Educational Background
a. Pre-Elementary
Gapan Educational Center for Children
Gapan City, Nueva Ecija
S.Y. 2002-2004
b. Elementary
Divina Pastora College
San Vicente, Gapan City
S.Y. 2004-2006
Philosophy in Life: “Do not dream of becoming anyone else but yourself.”
Name: Trisha Kate Nicerio Nagaño
Educational Background
a. Pre-Elementary
Camalig Learning School
Albay, Bicol
S.Y. 2003-2004
Ambition: to be an accountant
Philosophy in Life: “The moment you stop trying to become a better person is the
moment you start to become worse than what you already are.”
Name: Joerelyn Joy Paunan Ruedas
Educational Background
a. Pre-elementary