BANANA PEELS (MUSA SAPIENTUM)

AND EXTRACT OF MALABAR SPINACH (BASELLA ALBA)

AS BIOPLASTIC PRODUCT

RESEARCHERS:
GONZALES, JOLINA
BARBIETO, MICAH KATE
SAMSON, KATHREEN
PAASA, RODANTE
 CHAPTER I

1.1 PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

One of the main problems with bioplastics is that they are often not easily recyclable, and
can end up in landfills where they may not break down as quickly as expected. This can lead to
environmental issues, such as the creation of large amount of plastics waste that can take years to
decompose. Additionally, the production of bioplastics requires the use of large amounts of land
and water, which can have negative impacts of the environment.
Banana peels and Malabar spinach, also known as Basella Alba, are both potential sources
of bio-based plastic. Bio-based plastics are plastics made from renewable resources, such as
plants or microorganisms, rather than fossil fuels. The use of bio-based plastics is growing in
popularity as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics, which are derived from non-
renewable fossil fuels and can be harmful to the environment when not properly disposed of.
The use of banana peels as a source of bio-based plastic has been studied extensively in
recent years. Bananas are a widely available and renewable resource, making their peels an
attractive source of raw material for bio-based plastic production. In addition, banana peels
contain high amounts of cellulose, which is a key component in the production of bio-based
plastics.
Malabar spinach, on the other hand, is not as well-known as a potential source of bio-
based plastic. However, it has also been shown to contain high amounts of antioxidants as a
plasticizer replacement on glycerine, and making it a potentially useful raw material for bio-
based plastic production. The plant is native to tropical regions of Asia and is widely cultivated
for its edible leaves, which are used in salads and cooked dishes.
The production of bio-based plastics from banana peels and Malabar spinach is still in the
early stages of development, and further research is needed to determine the feasibility and
sustainability of these processes. However, the use of these renewable resources has the potential
to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and provide a more sustainable alternative to traditional
plastics.

1.2 BACKGROUND AND ITS SETTING

Bio plastics are plastics that are derived from renewable biological sources rather than
from fossil fuels. The use of specific plants or plant products, such as banana peels and Malabar
spinach, in the production of bio plastics would depend on their availability and the specific
properties that make them suitable for this purpose.
Banana peels and Malabar spinach are examples of waste products that can potentially be
used in the production of bio plastics. Using waste products as plasticizer for bio plastics can
help to reduce waste and provide a more sustainable source of raw materials for plastic
production. The specific process for converting these waste products into bio plastics would vary
depending on the type of plastic being produced and the specific properties desired in the final
product.
 In general, the production of bio plastics involves breaking down the plant materials into
their basic building blocks, such as cellulose or starch, and then using chemical processes to
convert these building blocks into the desired plastic. This process can be done through a variety
of methods, such as fermentation or chemical reactions, and may involve the use of additional
chemicals or enzymes to aid in the conversion process. The resulting bio plastic can then be
molded into the desired shape and used in a variety of applications.
However, there are also some challenges associated with using banana peels as source of
bioplastic. For one, the production process can be complex the costly, which can make difficult
to scale up and produce bioplastics in large quantities. Additionally, bioplastics made from
banana peels may not be as strong or durable as traditional plastics, which can limit their
practical applications.
Overall, the use of banana peels and Malabar spinach as plasticizer for bio plastics can
help to reduce waste and provide a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. While the
specific details of the production process may vary, the general idea is to convert these waste
products into bio plastics that can be used in a variety of applications.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM AND HYPOTHESIS

This study seeks to make bioplastic and extract of Malabar Spinach with the same quality as
the traditional plastic. It aims to establish answers to the following research question.

- Does Banana Peels and extract of Malabar Spinach are affective as raw materials in making
bioplastic product?
-Does the use of Malabar Spinach extract is better than to use of glycerine?
-Does the allocation of the availability of Banana Peels and Malabar Spinach is not hard to find?
1.4 SINIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The researcher wanted to help in one of the huge problem of our country which is the high
rate of plastic waste in our environment. The goal of the researcher was to create a plastic that,
unlike convential plastic, won’t take of hundreds of years to degrade and instead will breakdown
quickly, preventing large floods the continue the degradation of the environment.
The significance of this study lies in the potential for using banana peels and extract of
Malabar spinach (BASELLA ALBA) as replacement in glycerin on making a sustainable and
environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional plastics. Bio plastics, on the other hand, are
made from renewable resources and can biodegradable more easily, reducing the environmental
impact of plastic waste. Additionally, using banana peels as a source of bioplastic would be to
determine whether it is viable and sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. If successful, this
could help reduce the amount of plastic pollution and waste in the environment. It could also
provide new source of income and economic opportunities for banana farmers, who could
potentially sell their banana peels as a raw material for bioplastic production.
The delimitation of this study is that it will only consider the use of banana peels and extract
of malabar spinach as the main raw materials for the bio-plastic. Other potential raw materials or
additives will not be considered. In addition, the study will not evaluate the environmental
impact or sustainability of the bio-plastic, nor will it consider the economic feasibility of its
production or potential market demand.

1.5 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The scope of this study is to determine the potential of using banana peels and extract of
malabar spinach as a bio-plastic product. This study will focus on the production and
characterization of the bio-plastic.
Furthermore, this study will only consider laboratory-scale production of the bio-plastic, and
will not consider large-scale production methods or potential industrial applications..
Overall, this study aims to determine the potential of using banana peels and extract of
malabar spinach as a bio-plastic product, but does not consider all potential factors that may
affect its potential viability as a commercial product.
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

BANANA PEELS- Refers to the soft outer covering of a banana where the main ingredient-
starch will be extracted.

MALABAR SPINACH- Malabar Spinach has a good amount of antioxidants.

GLYCERINE- Glycerine is it loaded with antioxidants.

BIODEGARDABLE- Refers to the waste that is easy to decay.

BIOPLASTIC- Refers to the product which acts like plastic but is made from biodegradable
materials such as; banana peels

Non-Biodegradable Plastics- Refers to the waste that takes longer period of time to decay
which contains chemical
 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE STUDIES

1.7 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Bioplastics are plastics that are biodegradable, made from renewable resources, and are not
based on petrochemicals. It can be used to help reduce the problem of plastic waste suffocating
and polluting the environment. (2015 Acciona)
Bioplastic is an overly broad term that refers to a variety of plastic materials that are either
derived from renewable resources or biodegradable, or both. According to their properties, bio-
based and biodegradable bioplastics, bio-based and durable (non-biodegradable) bioplastics, and
petrochemical-based and biodegradable bioplastics are classified. Bio-based and biodegradable
bioplastics are made from renewable resources, such as plant biomass, and will biodegrade under
certain environmental conditions. Bio-based and durable bioplastics are also made from
renewable resources, but they are designed to have a longer life span. These bioplastics are more
sustainable because they are made from renewable resources. Petrochemical-based and
biodegradable bioplastics are petrochemical-based materials that can be biodegraded by
microbes in the ocean, compost, or soil. (2013 Science Learning Hub)
The advantages of bioplastics are numerous. The use of renewable resources to create
bioplastics is the key to: decreasing carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions of the
product; conserving fossil fuels by gradually replacing them; and increasing resource efficiency
through the means of the resources being cultivated on a (at least) annual basis because biomass
can first be used for materials and then for energy generation. (2016 European Bioplastic)

Bioplastics are derived from or synthesized by bacteria, or by plants. In contrast with the
plastic that we all know to be made of petroleum, bioplastic are made from renewable sources
and are biodegradable. Unfortunately, bioplastics still make up an insignificant portion of all
plastics made. However, many companies and labs are conducting the necessary research to
make the manufacturing processes cheaper and have high yields.

Since the introduction of petroleum-based plastic, its use has exploded and now we cannot
imagine life without it, plastic is omnipresent. In the last few decades, we started to realize the
damage the plastic is causing to the environment. As synthetic plastics are usually not
biodegradable, decomposing it is very hard. Despite all the efforts in recycling, our landfills,
oceans, rivers, beaches, and other natural spots are getting full with all kinds of plastic trash
1.8 REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES
There have been several studies conducted on the use of banana peels as bio plastic products.
These studies have focused on the potential of these natural materials to be used as an alternative
to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
A Turkish researcher Elif Bilgin proved that banana peels can be made into something more
useful than garbage by making it into a bio plastic. She said that she saw the possibility of
banana peels can be made into bioplastic because of its content, starch.
Proponents from spain (J. Gonzales, P.Partal, M.Garcia and C.Gallegos) also made bioplastics
from starch due to the overgrowing waste products and depleting of petroleum reserves because
of producing plastic products.
A bioplastic was also made by a student named Kathleen Hazel Lansang Montemayor from
the starch obtained from squash. Because of plastics does not decompose easily which one of the
causes of global warming. They also said that the project can reduce problems of global warming
because the bioplastics decompose.
Duran, Kim(2017) Another work has proven that the starch from cassava can also be used as
a raw materials in the production of bio plastics. The result was found that the product exhibited
the desirable mechanical properties of a biodegradable. plastic making it biodegradable at
disposal. The proponents concluded that cassava starch is one of the most promising raw
materials that can be used in making bioplastic that can be sold in large-quantity and
commercially.
 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

1.9 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The researchers prepared five setups: three experimental and two control setups; each setup
had six replicates.
A large selection of experiments was done by the researchers in order to indicate the effects
of placing Saba banana peels in 0.5% Na2S205 solution, using a variety of concentration of
hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide using different amounts of banana paste on the quality
of the plastic produced. The following two experiments was selected by the researchers and will
be done repeatedly.