Investigating Heat-Treatment Effects on Biodegradable Banana Peel Plastic Manufacturing Processes

Abstract

Traditional petroleum-based plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade, and so it is accumulating at an alarming rate, while plastic consumption is also increasing exponentially. Global plastic contamination has been the most threatening environmental issue globally since it is a staple in everybody's lives. So, an urgent method must be created to minimize the usage of conventional non-biodegradable plastics. In this study, banana peel plastic models shaped as rods, beads, and films were created first and subjected to four different heat-treatment methods: two with a low-heat treatment of 80℃ and 65℃ 24 hours with a fanning function in a dehumidifier, while high-heat treatments of 120℃, 1 or 2 hours in an electric oven. The study's results suggested that the banana plastic created with the low-heat treatment 80℃ presents more favorable qualities in molding weight change, pressing hardness, tensile force, and water stability. The stability in the pH solution was more excellent in low-heat treated plastic than in high-heat treated plastic. More studies might be needed to clarify the causes of differences in the characteristics examined.