Production of bioplastic from cassava peels to be used as a packaging material

Abstract

Plastics, composed primarily of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymers, pose significant environmental challenges due to their long decomposition time. The demand for biodegradable alternatives has led to the development of bioplastics from renewable sources. This study investigated the potential of cassava peels, an agro-industrial waste, as a raw material for producing biodegradable plastic. Starch content in cassava peels, the effect of the starch-to-glycerol ratio on the mechanical properties of the bioplastic, and the impact of heating time on the physical properties were the study parameters. The bioplastic films produced were subjected to tensile strength, water absorption, biodegradability, and drying time tests to determine their physical and mechanical properties using standard methods. Results showed that cassava peels contain a starch content of 71%, making them viable for bioplastic production. Heating the bioplastic for 7 minutes led the bioplastic with 90% starch content to have the highest water absorption rate of 79.80%. The tensile strength of this bioplastic was the highest with 1.35MPa when compared to the other bioplastic with starch content of 80% and 70%. However, the tensile strength was less than that of the bioplastic heat for 5 minutes which had 2.2Mpa. Reducing the starch content to 70% and increasing the glycerol content of 30% improved elongation to 19.81%, biodegradability rate also improved to23.62%. Further studies are needed to optimize the formulation and processing conditions to enhance the properties of cassava peel-based bioplastics.