Evaluation of Starch-Biopolymer Synthesized from Chaffs of Common Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris)

Abstract

The resilience and resistance of plastics to decomposition have led to the imperative need to develop biodegradable plastics as a viable solution. Starch biodegradable films have been synthesized recently as a sustainable replacement for synthetic plastics. Acid hydrolysis was used to synthesize starch nanoparticles from the chaffs of Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) which was mixed with varying percentages of Low-Density Polyethene (LDPE: C-S; 95:5, 90:10, 85:15, 80:20) by the heating process. Characterization of the starch nanoparticles was done using the FTIR, TEM, and EDX while the physicochemical properties (Compression, Hardness, and Biodegradation) of the produced biopolymers (LDPE-Starch) were also studied. Starch spectrum was observed at 3436cm-1 and other functional groups such as Carbonyl group, Sulphones, and Acetylenic groups were also revealed by Fourier Transmission Infra-Red Spectroscopy. The starch nanoparticles were observed to be flake-like shapes with a size of 50nm as shown by the TEM analysis. Of all the varying compositions of starch biopolymer synthesized, 90:10LDPE/B-S had the best hardness properties with 40.78HD and constant degradation was observed within weeks 3 and 4 in 95:5 (LDPE-B.S) with a peak value of 0.7705%. The study revealed the economical and sustainable production of starch nanoparticles from the chaffs of Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and its use for the improvement of biodegradable plastic films.