Chapter 3

Research Design and Methodology

This chapter consists of six parts namely: (1) Purpose

of the Study and Research Design, (2) Tools, Materials anD

Equipment, (3) Experimental Treatments, (4) Experimental

Procedure, (5) Data Collection, (6) Statistical Tools and

Analysis.

Part One, Purpose of the Study and Research Design,

restated the main problem and the discussion the research

design.

Part Two, Tools, Materials and Equipment, described the

Tools, Materials and Equipment used in the study.

Part Three, Experimental Treatments, enumerated the

manipulated and controlled variables in the study.

Part Four, Experimental Procedure, described the step-

by-step process followed in the conducting the experimental

study.

Part Five, Data Collection, discussed how the

instruments used in evaluating the study.

Part Six, Statistical Tool and Analysis, enumerated the

statistical tools used in analyzing the results of the

evaluation.
Purpose of the Study

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of

Colocasia esculenta (Taro) starch as a raw material in

making bioplastics. This includes the tensile strength,

water solubility, and biodegradability of the bioplastics

among Treatments A, B, C and D (Control). It will also

investigate the level of effectiveness of C. esculenta

(Taro) starch as bioplastic and its significant differences

among Treatments A, B C and D. The research study will use

three (3) treatments which differ in the amount of C.

esculenta (Taro) starch. The treatments are applied to three

(3) replications.

This research study will use true experimental research

design. In this design, the researcher manipulates one or

more independent variables (treatments), assigns subjects to

different treatment levels at random (random assignment),

and observes the effects of the treatments on outcomes

(dependent variables). A true experimental design compares

two groups in order to assess the impact of an intervention.

The intervention is applied to one group to the experimental

group, also referred to as the treatment group, while it is

not applied to the control group (Pressbooks, 2018).

 The independent variable of the study is Colocasia
esculenta (Taro) starch, and the dependent variable is the
effectiveness of C. esculenta (Taro) starch as a material
used for bioplastics.

Tools, Materials, and Equipment

Table 1 shows the scientific tools, materials, and

equipment to use in the study.

Table 1

Tools, Materials, and Equipment

Tools Materials Equipment

Knife Taro Weighing Scale
Stirring Rod Water Blender
Beaker Glycerin Stove
Casserole Hydrochloric acid Spring scale
Bowl Soil
Cellophane
Spatula
Plate
Mortar and Pestle
Container

Experimental Treatments

Table 2 shows the four (4) treatments carried in the

experiment. As can be seen, in all three (3) treatments the

amount of Colocasia esculenta (Taro) starches varies. The

control variable was not exposed to Colocasia esculenta

(Taro) mixtures.

Table 2
Components and Proportion of Taro Starch in each Treatment
Treatments
Components A B C D
Cassava Starch 10 grams 15 grams 20 grams Control
Glycerin 10 grams 10 ml 10 ml
Hydrochloric 15 ml 15 ml 15 ml
Acid
Water 70 ml 70 ml 70 ml

Experimental Procedure

The list below shows the processes in making C.

esculenta (Taro) starch as bioplastic:

1. Collection of Taro samples

a. Find Taro plant, mostly it can be seen in the

backyard.

b. Get the Taro root. Make sure that it is freshly

picked, harvesting in the morning will do.

2. Preparation of Taro:
a. Collected taro roots will be peeled using a knife.
b. Peeled taro roots will be sliced into cube-size
pieces.
c. the sliced taro will be blended with water with a
ratio of 1 is to 2 (1 for taro, 2 for water) using
a blender).
d. It will be placed in a container and let it sit
for 12 hours.
e. After settling for 12 hours, the starch-less
liquid will be poured out from the container. Keep
 the remaining starch that has settled at the base
of the container.
f. The starch that settled at the base of the
container will dry in the sunlight for 48 hours.
g. After 48 hours, the dried starch will be powdered
using mortar and pestle.

3. Making of Bioplastic:
a. Add the amount of starch (10/15/20 grams) in a
casserole.
b. Hydrochloric acid and glycerin will be added to
the mixture.
c. Add one 70 ml of water.
d. Mixture will be heated at a low heat and will be
stirred at the same time.
e. Wait until the bubbles have appeared.
f. Once the bubble has appeared, you may now turn of
the fire.
g. Poured the cooked mixture into a plate.
h. The cooked mixture will dry at a duration of 2
days.
i. Once it dries, it can be removed from the plate.
j. This will be done in three (3) replications.

4. Testing of the Treatments:

A. Tensile Strength
a. The four (4) different treatments will be hooked
on a spring scale.
b. The spring scale will then be pulled downwards
until the bioplastic strip will tear apart.
c. The maximum force withstand of the four (4)
different treatments will be recorded in an
observation table.
d. This will be done in three (3) replications.

B. Water Absorption
a. Nine samples will be used. Three for each varying
amount of starch (10g, 15g, and 20g)
b. The samples will be submerged in a cup of water
for 24 hours.
c. After 24 hours, the sample will be weighted in
grams.
 d. The results will be recorded in an observation
table.
e. This will be done in three (3) replications.
C. Biodegradability
a. Place soil in a large container.
b. The four (4) different treatments will be buried in the
soil for one (1) week.
c. The results will be gathered in one (1) week and record
the data using an observation table.
d. This will be done in three (3) replications.

Data Collection Procedure

In this study, the result of each treatment from three

(3) replications will be observed and examined by hooking a

the bioplastic sheet on a spring scale, submerging the

bioplastic in water, and burying the bioplastic in soil.

Using the observation table, the effectiveness of C.

esculenta (taro) starch as bioplastic will be evaluated in

terms of the tensile strength of the bioplastic, water

absorption capacity, and biodegradability.

The tensile strength in terms of maximum force

tolerance in Newton (N) of the bioplastic sheet from C.

esculenta (taro) starches will be observed using the

observation table below:

Treatment Maximum Force Tolerance

R1 R2 R3
A
B
C
D
 The water absorption capacity of the bioplastic sheet

from C. esculenta (taro) starches after the immersion within

24 hours will be observed using the observation table below:

Treatment Weight in grams (g)

R1 R2 R3
A
B
C
D

The biodegradability of the bioplastic sheet from C.

esculenta (taro) starches after one week will be observed

using the observation table below:

Treatment Biodegradabilty
R1 R2 R3
A Texture: Texture: Texture:
Appearance: Appearance: Appearance:
Odor: Odor: Odor:
B Texture: Texture: Texture:
Appearance: Appearance: Appearance:
Odor: Odor: Odor:
C Texture: Texture: Texture:
Appearance: Appearance: Appearance:
Odor: Odor: Odor:
D Texture: Texture: Texture:
Appearance: Appearance: Appearance:
Odor: Odor: Odor:

Statistical Tools and Analysis

Mean. The data will be tabulated and statistically

analyzed using the mean in determining the level of

effectiveness of the C. esculenta (taro) starch as

bioplastic.

ANOVA. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used to

determine the significant differences in the effectiveness

of the three (3) treatments. The level of significance will

be set to 0.05 alpha.