The Usage of Hen Eggshell and Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as Biodegradable Plastic

Abstract

Conventional plastics are deemed to be harmful to the health of the people, wildlife, and environment. Therefore, developing biodegradable plastics is needed because it is a better alternative to conventional plastics since they can be broken down through natural processes. This study investigates the effectiveness of eggshells and water hyacinth as one of the main components of biodegradable plastic. Three variations of biodegradable plastic were made in this study, one with 70% eggshell and 30% water hyacinth; the second one has 30% eggshell and 70% water hyacinth; and finally, 50% eggshell and 50% water hyacinth was recommended due to its poor plastic property. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was used for comparison. Experiments were conducted to test each of the biodegradable plastics’ durability, elasticity, ductility, and solubility. After analyzing the results, it suggests that there is a significant difference in durability, elasticity, and solubility but no significant difference in ductility. The results of this study also suggest that the biodegradable plastic with 30% eggshell and 70% water hyacinth has higher durability and elasticity while decreasing its solubility in water. In contrast, bioplastic with 70% eggshell and 30% water hyacinth has lower durability, elasticity, and higher ductility and solubility. Finally, the bioplastic with 50% eggshell and 50% water hyacinth has the least durability and moderate elasticity, ductility, and solubility.