Synthesis of Bioplastics from Banana Peel

Abstract

The term plastic is derived from Greek word Plastikos which means ‘to mould’. Plastics can be pressed, mouldedand bent into various shapes such as containers, pipes, tubes, etc. Plastics have a wide range of synthetic and semi-synthetic materials which has huge application for commercial purposes. The plastics are made from fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and crude oil. Because of its low density, transparency, toughness, low cost, and impermeable to water, plastics are used all over the world for various purposes. It has become an integral part of our daily lives. It is non-degradable; it sticks in the environment for ages and produces toxins that result in the emission of greenhouse gases like CO2 etc., which is the major cause of global warming. Manufacturing Bioplastics is a better alternative and eco-friendly way to overcome all these problems. The objective of this study is to synthesize Bioplastics from banana peel which serves as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics. The Biodegradability of the bioplastics was also studied. The solubility test and swelling's test were carried out to check whether the bioplastics retain their original properties, persistence, and tolerance to various solvents. Hence the bioplastic produced can be used for various commercial purposes.