EFFICACY OF CRAB

(BRACHYURA)
SHELL AS
BIOPLASTIC
ANN AUBREY POLINAR

DYM KARYL PREAGIDO

ABIJAH RUTH PLANTAR

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
1. What are the characteristics of crab
shells as bioplastics in terms of:
 Durability
 Water resistance
Ho2: What is the significant difference in
conventional plastic and the crab shells
as bioplastics?
NULL HYPOTHESIS
Ho1: There is no characteristics of crab
shells as bioplastics in terms of :
 Durability
 Water resistance
Ho2: There is no significant difference in
conventional plastic and the crab shells
as bioplastics
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Crab Vendors – crab vendors will gain

pieces of information regarding the
effectiveness of chitin in crab shells as a
biodegradable plastic which can help in
reducing waste in the environment. In
such case, crab vendors could also help
lessen the chemical dangers and
problems in the society.
LGU Lala – the LGU Lala will be
informed about the benefits coming
from agricultural waste materials such
as crustacean shells to be used as an
alternative for a renewable substrate
and to be widely used and beneficial to
humankind for sustainable industry.
SCOPE
  AND LIMITATIONS
This study focuses only on the
characteristics of crab shells as
bioplastics in terms of; a.) Durability
and b.) Water Resistance. It also targets
the effectiveness of crab shells as
biodegradable plastic. Moreover, it also
intends to determine the difference in
conventional plastic and crab shells as
biodegradable plastic.
CHAPTER III
 Various methods was introduced by
the researchers accordingly, starting
from the collection of raw materials
needed in the experiment down to data
gathering, interpretation and analysis. A
conceptual framework of the flow of the
study is shown below.
 

Gathering of Materials

Preparation of Experimental Set-Ups

Production of Bioplastics

Testing the Samples Using UTM, WR and durability

Analyzing the Data Gathered

Interpreting the Results

 
 
GATHERING MATERIALS
The raw materials that were used in
this study were the Crab Shells
collected from the markets,
households, restaurants and/or
fishing sites. Water (distilled and tap)
was used as solvent. All other
reagents used includes: NaOH
(Sodium Hydroxide), HCl
(Hydrochloric Acid) and Sorbitol (as
plasticizer).
PREPARATION OF
EXPERIMENTAL SET-UPS

Crab shells are obtained from crab

was first washed with tap water
followed by distilled water to avoid
contamination. Before use, the crabs
were first dried under the heat of the
sun and then crushed into smaller
pieces called chitin flakes
 After obtaining 10g of chitin flakes,
the flakes will be soaked with 150ml of
hydrochloric acid (HCl) to remove
excess minerals under vigorous
stirring and be left at room
temperature for 24hrs.
The demineralized shells were filtered
and deproteinized with 15g sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) to assist with the
deacetylation while the solution is being
boiled and stirred vigorously. After the
deacetylation process, the solution was
left at room temperature for another
24hrs. The sample obtained (which was
the chitosan) was then washed
thoroughly with deiones (distilled) water
until it reaches ph=7 (neutral).
PRODUCTION OF
BIOPLASTICS

Each experiment set-up of

extracted chitosan solution was
mixed with 9g of starch to improve its
plasticity and the sample was then
oven dried at various temperatures for
about 1 hour and stored at room
temperature.
 The process was then repeated three
times with a variation ratio of A( 100g
chitosan: 150ml HCl: 15g NaOH: 80 °C),
B(80g chitosan: 300 HCl: 20g NaOH:
90°C) and C(50g chitosan: 450ml HCl:
30g NaOH: 100°C) D(100g chitosan: 50
ml H2O: 150ml HCl: 15g NaOH: 80 °C)
respectively.
TESTING THE SAMPLE USING UTM
(DURABILITY)

The sample was placed between (2)

fixtures (grip) to clamp the material and
weight (force or load) is applied to the
material gripped at one end while the
other end is fixed. As the weight
increases, the sample had gradually
increased its length (stretched) before it
breaks. The length of the stretched
sample was measured afterwards.
 TESTING THE SAMPLE USING WATER
PERMEABILITY (RESISTANCE)
Water uptake was used to investigate the
permeability of the bioplastic by cutting
sample with size approximately 2x2 cm and
weighed (mass). The sample was placed on
a container with distilled water for 30
minutes. After immersion in water, the
sample was removed from the water and
weighed to measure the wet weighed. Water
uptake was calculated as follows:
Water uptake = [(wet weight-dry-
weight)/wet weight] x 100%
ANALYZING AND INTERPRETATION
OF DATA

After the testing method of the

samples, the data gathered was analyzed
using inferential statistics. The statistical
treatment that was used in analyzing the
data gathered are the ANOVA (F-test) to
address whether the means of the
samples are statistically different and T-
test to determine the comparison
between sample means/variation with the
samples of biodegradable plastic and
non- biodegradable plastic. This study
will use a significance level equal to 0.05.
The results will be interpreted and
discussed by the researchers.