Authors : Adetuyi Abayomi Olagundoye; Adejuwon Olorunsola Morayo
Volume/Issue : Volume 7 - 2022, Issue 4 - April
Google Scholar : https://bit.ly/3IIfn9N
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DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6571367
The development of environmentally friendly
bioplastics is an interesting research area nowadays.
Potato peel starch-based films reinforced with banana
pseudostem cellulose (BPC) at different concentrations
(0, 5, 10, 20, and 30% wt) on a dry basis were developed.
Cellulose from dried banana pseudostem was obtained
by alkali delignification and bleaching. The films were
produced by casting and oven-drying the gelatinized
mixture of potato peel starch, BPC, and glycerol
(plasticizer) at constant weight in all the films.
Physiochemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of
the films were determined. The films were also
characterized morphologically and structurally,
including the soil burial method for biodegradability. An
increase in BPC concentration improves the
physicochemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of
the films. The film with 10% BPC has the least moisture
content of 18%, has the best mechanical properties
(tensile strength of 9.20 MPa, modulus of 188.93 MPa,
and elongation at break of 8.66%), and has maximum
thermal stability (TGA 270–285 oC and DTA 377 oC). A
film containing 30% BPC has the highest opacity and
thickness, also with a maximum DTA of 377 oC. Surface
morphology revealed a smoother surface of the films as
the concentration of BPC increased, and functional
groups identified showed good interaction among the
components of the films. All the films were completely
biodegraded within 12 days. This study has shown that
incorporation of cellulose powder into starch-based
bioplastics gives better bioplastic films as a substitute for
petroleum-based plastics.
Keywords : Pseudostem, Plasticizer, Delignification, Bioplastic