Comparative Study of Starch-Based Bioplastic from Banana (Musa acuminata) peel (SBB) Incorporated with Commercialized and Extracted Chitin

Abstract

Abstract: The study produced extracted Chitin from Asian Green Mussel (Perna viridis) and Golden Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculate) shells using two-way chemical extraction process; deproteinization and demineralization. The extracted and commercialized Chitin were characterized through Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy to determine and compare the functional groups present. Starch-based bioplastics were produced using banana peel starch (BPS) incorporated with commercialized chitin and chosen chitin extract which is from AGM. The bioplastics were tested for its morphology through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), physical property through air test, chemical properties through biodegradability test, chemical reactivity test, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) test, water absorption test and flammability test, and mechanical property through tensile strength test. Four treatments were carried out using 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by weight chitin addition. The control SBB does not contain any chitin. All treatments were prepared using constant amount of BPS, PVA solution and glycerol. Based from the results, chitin addition improves the strong acid resistance, water-barrier properties, and tensile strength of the SBB. It was found out that the best treatment was T3 of AGM which has a WVTR of 73.9868 g/m2 , dissolved in water in an average of 6.1783 days, and has a tensile strength of 64286.3777 Pa