Eisa Loryze E.

Bernido

G10 – EINSTEIN (Research Student)

ALOE VERA (Barbadensis miller) LEAF EXTRACT EFFECT ON THE TENSILE

STRENGTH OF CASSAVA (Manihot esculenta) STARCH BIODEGRADABLE
PLASTIC FILM

Joel M. Tiquel

Research Adviser

S.Y. 2023-2024
Rationale

Plastic usage has been increasing for the past years and usually it

becomes wastes in our ecosystem. Plastics have a property of resistance to

chemical reactions and enzymatic reactions (Ezeoha et al., 2013). It can take

up to 100 years to degrade only a few grams of plastic under normal

environmental conditions. These plastic wastes are also the cause of pollution.

According to Caraiso (2023) the Philippines generate at least 61 million metric

tons of waste daily, 24% of which is plastic waste. In this study, the researcher

will try to contribute a new idea in the now active solution in reducing plastic

waste. This study involves the use of aloe vera extract and cassava starch into

a new material which will help plastic waste reduction ― bio plastic.

Bio plastics are one of the most innovative environmental friendly

materials having advantage of lower carbon footprint. According to (Demirbas,

2007) bio plastic products are produced from renewable resources and it

contributes to reduction of greenhouse gases emission through reduced carbon

foot print. The Bioplastics like PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates), PLA

(Polylacticacid), PHB (Polyhydroxybutyrates) are manufactured which are

biodegradable with similar functionality like that of conventional plastics and

has the potential to reduce the dependence on petro-plastic that could be an

environmental hazard (Venkatachalam et al., 2020). Among all biopolymers,

starch is being investigated as a potential material for biodegradable plastic.

Starch is a low cost and abundant product available in nature. One of the

starch producing crops is cassava.

Cassava commonly known as yuca or manioc, is a tuber crop and

versatile. Once the roots are harvested, they can either be sold as-is or

transformed into an array of products (Martins, 2021). High levels of starch

can be extracted to create tapioca, a common thickener for desserts, soups,

and manufactured foods. Starch is a natural polymer extracted from plants

and can be used to produce biodegradable plastics due to its eco- friendliness,

abundance, and low-cost. In which cassava has of large amount and can be

suitably used for the production of bio plastics (Suryanto et al., 2017).

According to the study of Cereda et. al., (1995) Cassava starch as films was

promising, giving a good appearance, without stickiness, exhibiting shininess

and transparency. Furthermore, Cassava starch along with wheat gluten has

been developed into edible films (Vincentini et. al.,1999).

With the knowledge that cassava starch as bio plastic is possible, the

researcher has decided to dive down deeper with the component at hand and

possibly contribute another version by adding a new component, which is Aloe

vera.

Aloe vera known for its beneficial impact on the world has been created

into several use such as: medicinal, dermal, dietary and etcetera (Surjushe,

2008). Aloe is a cactus-like plant that grows in hot, dry climates (NIH, 2023).

The plant has triangular, fleshy leaves with saw-like edges, yellow tubular
flowers and fruits that contain numerous seeds. Each leaf consist an inner

clear gel that contains 99% water and rest is made of glucomannans, amino

acids, lipids, sterols and vitamins and latex which is the bitter yellow sap and

contains anthraquinones and glycosides (Surjushe et. al., 2008).

In the making of bio plastic, glycerol is used as plasticizer to improve the

ability of bio plastic in absorbing water and as crystal forming agent (Inayati et.

al., 2019). According to Maina (2019), organic aloe vera has 100% glycerol. Aloe

vera also consist of cellulose enzyme (Surjushe et. al., 2008) which can be a

possible contribution of component to the making of the product. Cellulase is

an enzyme family which catalyses the breakdown of cellulose while cellulose is

a straight chain polymer (Dunee, 2012). Meaning the polymer can be used as

the building block agent and the cellulose can contribute to the degradability of

the bio plastic.

In the end of this study the researcher expects to have a plausible

outcome of the two main ingredients: aloe vera extract and cassava starch and

this study will eventually contribute to the reducing of plastic waste.

Statement of the Problem

What is the significant effect of aloe vera leaf extract to the tensile

strength of cassava starch as biodegradable plastic film?

Hypothesis

Aloe vera has no significant effect on the tensile strength of cassava

starch as biodegradable plastic film.
 METHODOLOGY

Preparation of Materials

The materials to be used for the product will be: cassava tubers and aloe

vera leaves obtained from the researcher's area. Glycerol and talc powder will

be obtained via buying. Glycerin is a simple polyol compound. It is a colorless,

odorless, viscous liquid and has a high boiling point and freezes to form paste

(Ezeoha et. Al., 2013). Apparatus to be used for the product will be: knife for

manual peeling of cassava and cutting of aloe vera leaves, blending machine,

sieve, filtering cloth, bowl, and a make-shift dryer.

Cassava Starch Preparation

Manual peeling will be done with a knife: vertically and will be cut into

pieces and then washing will be done by tap water. The cassava tubers will

then be put on the blending machine or blender. The blended cassava will be

mixed with water ( three times the volume of the blended cassava). The mixture

will then be sieved and filtered using a sieve and a filther cloth respectively.

After that, the filtrate will then be allowed to settle for six hours. The resulting

starch will be mixed with water again and allowed to settle for 12 hours, this

method is called starch washing (Ezeoha, 2013). The starch will be dewatered

manually by decantation and will be dried by the sun for 72 hours to eliminate

the moisture (Nije et. al., 1998). Sun drying is the process of drying the food by

direct exposure to the sun and by doing so the evaporation of water from the

product occurs, assisted by movement of surrounding air (Brennand, 1994).

Improvised Sun Drying Apparatus

This tool will be made with organza fabric and dry bamboo wood. The

organza fabric will be cut into a rectangular shape with length of 12 inches and

a width of 8 inches. Overall 12 bamboo pieces will be used 6 of which will be

cut into 12 inches and the other 6 into 8 inches. Four of the 6:12inch bamboos

will be placed on the longer side of the fabric dividing it into two groups. 2 for

the left and the others for the right. The fabric will be placed in between the

two bamboos of each side. The 2 out of the 6:12inch bamboos will be placed as

borders on each side. It is to cover the starch from the blowing wind. The same

process will be undergone by the 6:8inch bamboos. A nylon will then be

attached to each side of the 4 corners and will be tied together in the middle of

the rectangular tool. The tool will then be hanged on a clothline under the sun

and ready for usage.

Aloe Vera Extract Preparation

Manual extraction of the aloe vera leaves will be done with a knife from

the base of the leaves. After cutting the leaves from the plant the base and the

top of the leaves are cut at 2 inches (depending on the size of the leaf). The

leaves will be set aside for 1 hour to extract aloin. The saw-like sides of the

leaves will be sliced off vertically up. If the leaves are big, divide it into groups,

if not just don’t. Slice the skin of the leaves on both sides, scrape the gel out

and into a container with a sharp edged spoon.

Formulation of the Product

Materials to be used in formulating the product are: 3 bowls with same

size, fork, spatula, whisk.

Boil 3 liters of water in a cauldron with low heat. As the water boils add

360 grams of cassava starch. Then add half a liter of vegetable oil. Mix the

mixture until mixed thoroughly. After, pour the aloe vera leaf extract on the

mixture and stir again. Let mixture to boil for 3 minutes. After, check the

thickness of the mixture with a fork. Turn off the stove and set aside the

cauldron. The same process will be done to the three treatments: A,B, and C.

The following treatments are introduced on the following subtopic: Testing for

Product’s Tensile Strength.

Preparing Product for Testing

Materials used will be a spreader spatula and baking trays (rectangular

and any size) but as for the researcher a 12 inch by length and width will be

used. Take an amount of the mixture from the cauldron to the tray. Spread the

mixture evenly until completely flat and has occupied the whole tray. Set aside

the product and live it to dry for 8 hours in a dry place to avoid contact with

moisture. The same process will be done for every treatment.

Testing for Product’s Tensile Strength

In testing for the product’s tensile strength there will be three (3)

treatments in total: A,B, and C. Treatment A will have 10 aloe vera leaves on its

mixture. Treatment B will have 20 aloe vera leaves. Treatment C will have 30.

The test will also be done with (3) weights. T1 will have five (5) kilograms (kg),

T2 will have 10 kg, and T3 will have 15 kg.

The variables will be hanged on the clothline and clips as the holder. At

the bottom of the variables a clip will hold on with the attached corresponding

weights. The corresponding weights from T1-T3 will be tested at the same time

respectively. In gathering the data, a timer will be used for each treatment. The

timer will start when the weights in different treatments are clipped at the

same time. As the 60 seconds have reached its limit the weights will be

removed from the treatments. A measuring tape is to be used: it will measure

the change in length of the variables. At the end of the test the researcher will

be conducting a data analysis which will be done by Simple-Factor Analysis of

Variance (ANOVA). The result will then tell us which variable is more effective

in regards to tensile strength.

Data Gathering and Data Analysis

The tool to be used in this study will be Simple-Factor Analysis of

Variance (ANOVA).

Treatments 60sec Interval (inches)

ROW TOTAL ROW TOTAL2

T1 T2 T3

C
Bibliography

Agas, C.W.C. (2019) Aloe vera extract as substitute for glycerine in making
bioplastic, Ascendens Asia Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Abstracts.
Available at:
https://ojs,aaresearchindex.com/index.php/AAJMRA/article/view/11926

Brennand, C.P. (2006) Home drying of food, DigitalCommons@USU.

Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_histall/606/

Caraiso, B. (2023) Philippines produces 61,000 million metric tons of

waste daily, Philstar.com. Available at:
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/06/2286595/philippines-
produces-61000-million-metric-tons-waste-daily

Cereda, M. (1995) ‘Starch films for fruit preservation. In: Biodegradable

Polymers Congress: Advances and Perspectives’ (Anais…Burnos Aire, 1995) 42

Demirbas, A. (2007) ‘Biodegradable plastics from renewable resources’,

Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, 29(5),
pp. 419–424. doi:10.1080/009083190965820.

Dunee (2019) Difference between cellulose and cellolase, Compare the

Difference Between Similar Terms. Available at:
https://www.differecebetween.com/diffrence-between-cellulose-and-vs-
cellulase/#:~:text=Cellulose%

Ezeoha, S. (2013) ‘Production of Biodegradable Plastic Packaging Film

from Cassava Starch’, IOSR Journal of Engineering. 3. 14-20. 10.9790/3021-
031051420.

Insyati, Pamungkas, D.J. and Matovanni, M.P.N. (2019) Efffect of glycerol

concentration on mechanical characteristics of biodegradable plastic from rice
straw cellulose, AIP Publishing. Available at:
httpsa://pubs.aip.org/aip/acp/article-abstract/2097/1/030110/818544/
Effect-of-glycerol-concentration-on-mechanical?redirectedFrom=PDF

Maina, G. (2019) Can I use glycerine with Aloe Vera Gel?, Quora.
Available at: https://www.quora.com/Can-I-use-glycerine-with-aloe-vera-gel

Martins, S. (2021) Everything you need to know about cassava, Eater.

Available at; https: //www.eater.com/22745164/what-is-cassava-how-to-use-
cooking-recipes
 NIH (2023) Production of biodegradable plastic packaging film from
cassava starch. Available at:
https://.researchgate.net/publication/247123264_Production_of_Biodegradabl
e_Film_from_Cassava_Starch

Nije, D.N. and Rumsey, T.R. (1998) ‘Experimental study of cassava sun
drying’, Drying Technology, 16(1-2),pp. 163-180.d
doi:10.1080/0737393808917397.

Surjushe, A., Vasani, R., & Saple, D. G. (2008). Aloe vera: a short
review. Indian journal of dermatology, 53(4), 163–166.
https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.44785

Venkatachalam, H., & Palaniswamy, R. (2020). BIOPLASTIC WORLD: A

REVIEW. Journal of Advanced Scientific Research, 11(03), 43-53. Retrieved
from http://sciensage.info/index.php/JASR/article/view/505

Vicentini, N.M., Sobral, P.J. and Cereda, M.P. (1999) ‘The influence of the
thickness on the functional properties of cassava starch edible films’, Special
Publications, pp. 291-300.doi:10.1039/9781847551672-00291.

Wahyuningtyas, N. and Suryanto, H. (2017) ‘Analysos of biodegradation

of bioplastics made of cassava starch’, Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Science and Technology, 1(1), pp. 24-31 doi:10.17977/um016v1i12017p024