Cassava Starch Content Research Articles

Cassava Breeding and Cultivation Challenges in Thailand: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) was introduced to Southeast Asia in the 16th-17th centuries and has since flourished as an industrial crop. Since the 1980s, Thailand has emerged as the leading producer and exporter of cassava products. This growth coincided with the initiation of cassava breeding programs in collaboration with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), focusing on root yield and starch production. The success of Thai cassava breeding programs can be attributed to the incorporation of valuable genetic diversity from international germplasm resources to cross with the local landraces, which has become the genetic foundation of many Thai commercial varieties. Effective evaluation under diverse environmental conditions has led to the release of varieties with high yield stability. A notable success is the development of Kasetsart 50. However, extreme climate change poses significant challenges, including abiotic and biotic stresses that threaten cassava root yield and starch content, leading to a potential decline in starch-based industries. Future directions for cassava breeding must include hybrid development, marker-assisted recurrent breeding, and gene editing, along with high-throughput phenotyping and flower induction. These strategies are essential to achieve breeding objectives focused on drought tolerance and disease resistance, especially for CMD and CBSD.

Characterization of Bitter Cassava Starch from the Town of Loum in Cameroon for Potential Use in Thermoplastic Composites

Starches are often used as a matrix in the development of thermoplastic composites. This study seeks to show that bitter cassava starch extracted from cassava tubers from the town of Loum, the highest producing area in Cameroon, can be used in the development of composite films. Various literature protocols were used for the different characterizations. The results showed a cassava starch content of 40% in the composite, a water content of 13.58%, an ash content of 0.51%, an oil retention capacity of 0.737 g/g, a retrogradation of 41.5%, and amylose and amylopectin contents of 26.5% and 73.50%, respectively. Analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) showed that the bitter cassava starch is a polysaccharide, and thermal analysis gave a thermal stability of 190 °C during heating. In view of these results, we suggest the bitter cassava starch from the town of Loum in Cameroon could be used as a matrix in the production of composites, particularly composite films.

Influence of Organic Granular Fertilizer, Chemical and Granular Organic Fertilizer with Hormone Mixed Formula (Ho), and Chemical Fertilizer to the Yield and Starch Content of Cassava

Objective: The purpose of this study was to the influence of fertilizers and the use rate of fertilizer for soil improvement on the yields, and starch content of cassava. Method: The experiment design was in RCBD with 9 treatments, which were as follows; T1 (Control), T2 (ORG 50 kilograms/rai.), T3 (ORG 100 kilograms/rai.), T4 (HO-1 50 kilograms/rai.), T5 (HO-1 100 kilograms/rai.), T6 (HO-2 50 kilograms/rai.), T7 (HO-2 100 kilograms/rai.), T8 (CHEM 50 kilograms/rai.), and T9 (CHEM 100 kilograms/rai.) The experiment plots were located at Pasao, Muang District, Uttaradit Province, from June 2017 – June 2018. by using the DMRT method at 95% confidence. Results and Conclusions: The result showed that yield components, the use of HO-2 fertilizer 100 kilograms/rai. The formula of yield quality for cassava. It has the mean number of tubers per plant 17.00 tuber/ plant, number of root length 47.75 cm., and the cassava tuber circumference 25.25 cm. significantly different at 95%. While the components of average weight/tuber 0.67 kilograms/tuber and yield weight/tree 10.55 kilograms/plant were the highest among other treatments. But there was no statistical difference at 95%. However, when considering the highest average yield per rai, It was found that using HO-2 fertilizer 100 kg/rai gave a higher yield than other treatments (5,110 kilograms/rai). The rate of 100 kilograms/rai resulted in a higher percentage of cassava starch content than other methods (30.50%), which was statistically significantly different at 95%, better than using chemical fertilizers, organic granular fertilizers, and without fertilizers (Control). In terms of cost and profit, It was found that using 100 kg/rai of HO-2 fertilizer resulted in the highest profit from product sales per rai of 10,458 baht/rai, which was higher than using chemical fertilizers and organic granular fertilizer. Moreover, HO fertilizer was a choice to manage soil and fertilizer that affects the cassava product quality in Uttaradit Province. Research implications: The hormone mixed formula (HO) fertilizer 100 kilograms/rai had certain impact on the improvement on chemical properties and the soil physical appearance than not putting the fertilizer, that the HO-2 100 kilograms per rai was suitable for increasing the productivity and percentage of starch content of cassava. Originality/value: This study evaluates fertilizer types and application rates on cassava yield and starch content in Uttaradit Province, Thailand. Using a randomized complete block design, it provides insights into soil fertility and productivity improvement. The study also assesses profitability, offering practical insights for farmers.

Exploring the Transformation of Food Waste into Bioplastic Materials: A Review

Plastics, commonly encountered in forms such as packaging, household items, office supplies, electronics, and more, are typically conventional plastics derived from petroleum synthesis. The environmental issues posed by conventional plastics, which do not naturally degrade, necessitate a solution. An effective approach to address this challenge involves substituting conventional plastics, synthesized from petroleum, with biodegradable plastics made from natural materials. This article employs a literature review methodology, exploring research journals that cover a spectrum of bioplastics topics, including definitions, applications, advantages, natural ingredients, and final bioplastic products. Bioplastics, crafted from natural materials, possess the ability to decompose through microbial action, rendering them more environmentally friendly. Utilizing agricultural and fishery waste as sources of natural materials, such as cassava peels, fruit seeds, seaweed, fish scales, starch and cellulose content for bioplastic production. Bioplastic applications extend across various sectors, encompassing packaging, catering, electronics, automotive, agriculture, horticulture, toys, textiles, and more.

Antimicrobial activity, mechanical and thermal properties of cassava starch films incorporated with beeswax and propolis

Edible films can be formed from different polymeric compounds. The use of starch has gained extra value; because it can be used in combination with plasticizers and lipids, helping to improve mechanical properties. Besides, with the addition of an antimicrobial, the function of these films can be extended. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of native cassava starch, beeswax and ethanolic propolis extract (EPE) on the mechanical, thermal and inhibitory properties against the Aspergillus niger fungus. An experimental Box-Behnken design with three factors: cassava starch concentration (2–4%w/v), beeswax (0.5–0.9%w/w) and EPE (1–4%v/w) was used. The films obtained were opaque and with low mechanical properties. EPE concentration affected tensile strength, elongation at break (EB) and Young’s modulus (YM), and cassava starch content only affected EB and YM. In thermal properties, the weight loss was affected by the cassava starch-beeswax interaction, where the most loss occurred at high levels of these factors in the temperature range of 200–360 °C. The films reduced the growth of the Aspergillus niger by 51%, where the beeswax-EPE interaction had a significant positive effect. The characteristics of the developed films suggest that they would be more acceptable as fruit and vegetable coatings.

Predicting starch content of cassava with near infrared spectroscopy in Ugandan cassava germplasm

In Uganda, efforts are underway to improve starch content through conventional breeding as a strategy for increasing adoption of new cassava varieties for both food and industry. However, only few samples can be quantified, limiting the gains in breeding. A database of 115 clones was used to evaluate the potential of Near infrared spectroscopy to predict starch content in cassava. Starch content ranged from 21.48 to 73.97% dry basis. The performance of standard normal variate and de-trend with second derivative calculated on two data points and smoothing plus combination of standard multiplicative scatter correction with second derivative calculated on two data points and smoothing were the best fit mathematical treatments for the calibrations developed. Near infrared spectroscopy predictions for starch content (R2 = 0.85, and r2 = 0.55) developed were reliable, thus usable for screening of cassava starch content at early stages of breeding.

Effect of starch content and ultrasonic pretreatment on gelling properties of myofibrillar protein from Lateolabrax japonicus

AbstractTo investigate the protein–starch interactions in myofibrillar protein gels under the ultrasonic pretreatment, the effect of cassava starch content and ultrasonic pretreatment on gelling properties of myofibrillar protein from Lateolabrax japonicus was studied. For the myofibrillar protein–starch (MPS) solutions, the turbidity and elastic modulus increased when the starch content increased from 0% to 8%. For the MPS gels, the hardness, chewiness, gumminess, and water holding capacity increased with the starch content, whereas the cooking loss and whiteness decreased. Starch incorporation promoted the conversion of free water to immobilized water and bound water. The active sulfhydryl content decreased with the starch content, whereas the hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction content increased. Fine network structure containing pores at uniform size was formed in the MPS gel at an increased starch content, as shown in the scanning electron microscope images. When the ultrasonic pretreatment was introduced, the elastic modulus of MPS solutions and hardness, chewiness, gumminess, hydrophobic interaction, β‐sheet content, and microstructural compactness of the MPS gels increased, whereas the turbidity of the MPS solutions and cooking loss, whiteness, free water content, active sulfhydryl content, and random coil content of the MPS gels decreased. The MPS gel containing 8% of starch and subjected to ultrasonic pretreatment showed the highest hardness, chewiness, and gumminess of 220, 150, and 160 g, while the lowest cooking loss of 2.5% among all samples. Therefore, the gelling properties of myofibrillar protein from L. japonicus could be enhanced by the starch incorporation, ultrasonic pretreatment, and their synergistic effect.

Preparation and characterization of Cassava starch/Polybutylene (adipate-co-terephthalate) biodegradable composite film

Extruded biodegradable films based on Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and Cassava starch (CS) at varying weights were prepared, and their relevant properties for packaging applications are here reported. Neither the peak position nor the intensity of the film’s distinctive infrared absorption peaks was altered by the addition of CS to PBAT. Therefore, adding CS to PBAT is solely a physical process. Experimental results show that the increase in CS content, the tensile strength, elongation at break, and the tear resistance of the composite are decreased. The "30% CS” included composite film was selected as the optimized composition since it is cost-effective while acquiring the required physical properties to be a better fit as a packaging material. However, the overall migration of residue on the surface of the “30% CS/PBAT” sample wasn’t in the acceptable range (<10 mg/dm2). Therefore, the developed product is suitable for use as a packaging material except for food packaging. Thus, the extrusion process needs to be further modified to be used as food packaging.

Can boron application increase the starch content in cassava roots?

Boron is one of the essential micronutrients that is important for cassava growth, one of which is in the formation of starch, but research on the effect of boron on cassava plants is still rarely reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to know the effect of boron application on cassava starch content. The experiment was conducted in Tanjung Bintang District, South Lampung Regency, Lampung Province from February to December 2020. Waxy clone cassava was used as planting material and 45% boric acid fertilizer as treatment material. There were five boron treatments (B0 (0 kg boron ha-1), B1 (0.31 kg boron ha−1), B2 (0.63 kg boron ha−1), B3 (0.94 kg boron ha−1), and B4 (1.26 kg boron ha−1)) applied to waxy clone cassava. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with 3 replicates. The results showed that treatment B2 showed the average weight of cassava roots is 2.15 kg/plant and starch content is 23.83%. Treatment B2 also showed the highest mean of those two variables compared to other treatments.

Utilization Semi Cylindrical Capacitor for Measuring Starch Content Thai Type Cassava

It has been realized that the measurement of the Thai type of cassava starch uses a semi-cylindrical capacitor has been done. This measurement is carried out by providing an input signal to the semi-cylindrical capacitor plate using the IC XR-2206 oscillator with a frequency of 100 kHz. The output signal from the capacitor is in the form of an AC voltage which is then forwarded to the full wave rectifier circuit. The output voltage of the rectifier is a DC voltage, and the results are displayed using a DSO oscilloscope. Cassava starch content was measured by the specific gravity method, and the stress was measured using a semi-cylindrical capacitor. In measuring the starch content, the starch content was 19.12 - 28.76% (range 9.64%) and gave an output voltage of 7.53 - 7.89 V (range 0.36 V). Using the linear regression method, the characteristic equation V = 0.035 KP + 6.871, and the correlation value was equals to 0.985.

ZnO/Cassava Starch‐Based Hydrogel Composite for Effective Treatment of Dye‐Contaminated Wastewater

AbstractIndustrial expansion has increased the discharge of contaminated wastewater. Wastewater can be treated by adsorption with petroleum‐based hydrogels but the materials are not biodegradable and therefore cause secondary toxic waste. In this work, hydrogel composites are prepared based on non‐biodegradable polyacrylamide and biodegradable materials of cassava starch (CS) and poly(vinyl alcohol). The effect of CS content on the porous structure is studied. The highest water absorption capacity of 74 g g−1 is obtained from a hydrogel 30 wt% of CS. Within 4 h, the hydrogel effectively adsorbs the cationic dyes methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet, and the anionic dyes congo red and reactive orange. The maximum adsorption capacity toward MB is 993 mg g−1. Experimental data indicate a monolayer adsorption via chemisorption. Silica‐coated ZnO photocatalyst particles are synthesized via a sol–gel method and coated on the outer surface of the hydrogel. Under sunlight, the hydrogel composite degrades almost 90% of adsorbed dye. The hydrogel composite is capable of effective photodegradation for at least three cycles under artificial UV irradiation and four cycles under sunlight, but adsorption capacity remains higher than 80% at the eighth cycle. The hydrogel composite also shows antibacterial activities, indicating an additional beneficial property for industrial wastewater treatment.

Effects of expanding cassava planting and harvesting windows on root yield, starch content and revenue in southwestern Nigeria

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important staple crop in Nigeria. It provides approximately 80 % of the caloric intake in Nigeria. High starch content and fresh root yields are important for the commercialization of cassava. Cassava is a perennial crop, and it can be produced all year round. However, cassava fresh root yield and starch content are strongly influenced by environmental conditions such as rainfall. Therefore, it is important to identify planting and harvest periods to attain maximum yields and starch content and to increase profitability. The present study aimed at (i) comparing changes in fresh root yields and starch contents of cassava planted and harvested at different times around the year (ii) identifying the cassava harvest phase attaining maximum fresh root yields and starch content (iii) assessing how price fluctuations and root yields affect the revenue and income generation across the year. This study was carried from 2017 to 2019 in southwestern Nigeria. Existing cassava fields planted at different months were visited and the planting dates were recorded. Harvesting for each planting month was done at 9, 11 and 13 months after planting (MAP). Fresh root yield and starch content varied across planting months. For all crop ages, the highest fresh root yields were recorded when planted in September and December. The highest root starch content was observed in 9- and 13-months old cassava when planted in March and November, respectively. Cassava fresh root yield and starch content varied across Julian day of harvest with lowest yields obtained between Julian day 60–120 (March and April) which coincides with the beginning of rainfall. Highest fresh root yields and starch content were attained between Julian day 180–330. Revenue showed seasonal variation and was dependent Julian day of harvest. Gross revenue was lowest between Julian day 60 and 120 (March and April) and highest from Julian day 180 (July). Lowest incomes or profits were recorded when cassava was harvested between Julian day 60 and 120 (March and April). About 9.1 % of farmers had negative revenues or lost income when they harvested at 9 MAP hence losing between 150 and 200 USD ha−1 compared with 2.8 % of farmers that lost income when harvesting was done at 11 and 13 MAP losing between 100 and 150 USD ha−1. Thus, farmers’ income generation critically depends on cassava planting and harvest dates. Choosing the right time to plant and harvest cassava is one of the most important decisions farmers can make to maximize profit.

Investigation of the mechanism of casein protein to enhance 3D printing accuracy of cassava starch gel

This work evaluated the potential mechanism of casein protein (CP) in enhancing the 3D printing performance of cassava starch (CS) gel in terms of the multi-scale structure of starch and gel properties. The addition of CP could increase the average molecular weight (−Rh) of starch after thermal processing, which reduced the line width and increased the centre height of the 3D-printed product, despite the reduction of the structural recovery of the gel system. In addition, the increase in CS content caused a decrease in the short-range ordered structure of starch, resulting in a decline in relaxation time and an increase in free water content (A23), which in turn provided the gel system with a greater elastic modulus and ultimately increased the printing precision of 3D printed products. This study presented meaningful information for the application of 3D printing to starch-protein complex foods.

Feasibility study on quantification and authentication of the cassava starch content in wheat flour for bread-making using NIR spectroscopy and digital images

This works proposed a feasibility study on NIR spectroscopy and chemometrics-assisted color histogram-based analytical systems (CACHAS) to determine and authenticate the cassava starch content in wheat flour. Prediction results of partial least squares (PLS) achieved coefficient of correlation (rpred) of 0.977 and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 1.826 mg kg−1 for the certified additive-free wheat flour, while rpred of 0.995 and RMSEP of 1.004 mg kg−1 were obtained for the commercial wheat flour containing chemical additives. Additionally, Data-Driven Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogy (dd-SIMCA) presented similar predictive ability using NIR and CACHAS for the certified wheat flour, authenticating all target samples, besides correctly recognizing samples that could represent a fraud. No satisfactory results were obtained for the commercial wheat flour. Therefore, NIR spectroscopy is more useful to offer definitive quantitative and qualitative analysis, while CACHAS can only provide an alternative preliminary analysis.

Synthesis of photodegradable cassava starch-based double network hydrogel with high mechanical stability for effective removal of methylene blue

Synthetic hydrogel has been widely used in several applications, but poor mechanical stability and biodegradability limit their applications and raise environmental concerns. Here, a biodegradable hydrogel was developed via simple free-radical polymerization of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) in the presence of cassava starch (CS) and poly(vinyl alcohol). The hydrogel showed exceptional mechanical and physical properties. The structural morphology changed at higher CS content from a dense fiber-like porous network to larger pores with thicker cell walls. Due to the formation of a double network structure via physical entanglement, the compressive modulus significantly increased from 27 kPa (CS 0 wt%) to 127 kPa (CS 50 wt%). Reducing synthetic content (PAA) to 25 wt% and increasing CS content to 50 wt% did not reduce the removal efficiency of the hydrogel toward methylene blue (MB). The maximum adsorption capacity of the CS50 hydrogel was 417.0 mg/g. Data fitting to theoretical models indicated monolayer adsorption of MB on a homogeneous surface via chemisorption. Removal efficiency was higher than 70% at the 5th cycle of adsorption-desorption. The biodegradability and photodegradability of the hydrogel were improved by grafting with CS. The developed hydrogel represents an alternative biodegradable adsorbent for a sustainable system of wastewater treatment.

Nonparametric Stability Analysis of Starch Content of Gamma Irradiated Cassava at Three Locations in West Java, Indonesia

Cassava is one of the largest starch producing tuber crops in Indonesia. Tapioca from cassava starch can be used as a raw materials for a variety of foods including biscuits, instant porridge, meatball, sausage, nuggets, and flour condiment. Breeding programs to improve cassava yield and starch content by using mutagen gamma rays irradiation was tested in four cassava generations (M1V4). Cassava is propagated by stem cuttings and the new characteristic obtained from gamma irradiation mutation is stable and can be passed from one generation to the next. Cassava mutants were obtained by evaluating the performance in different environmental conditions. The testing of yield adaptability and stability through a series of multi location is an important step before a new variety can be released. The aim of this research was to compare nonparametric stability and to evaluate the stability of the starch content of 16 genotypes (14 mutants and 2 varieties) in three locations in West Java Province i.e. Tapos (Depok), Cikarawang (Bogor), and Ciseeng (Bogor). Experiments were conducted in a completely randomized block design with three replications nested in each environment. Testing of yield stability in this study used four approaches with 10 parameters of nonparametric method. Starch content was estimated using gravimetric method. Based on frequency stability ranking of starch content from gravimetric method the G63142 genotype had the highest starch content estimation (29.99%), and the top five genotypes with high starch content were G63142, G61142, “Manggu”, G62151, and G63124. G61142 was categorized as genotype with static and dynamic stability, therefore this genotype is a very potential mutant to be released, whereas G63124 is categorized as a genotype with a static stability. Genotypes G63142, G62151, and “Manggu” had variable but relatively high starch content.

Enhanced performance of urea–glyoxal polymer with oxidized cassava starch as wood adhesive

To eliminate the hazard of formaldehyde from wood-based products to human and environment, formaldehyde was replaced by glyoxal to produce wood adhesive. Urea–glyoxal (UG) resin was environmental friendly, while its bonding strength was very poor, especially its water resistance. The object of this work was to improve the mechanical properties of UG resin by oxidized cassava starch addition. Hence, the urea–glyoxal (UG) resin was synthesized and the oxidized cassava starch was added through mechanical mixing. The bonding strength, structure distributions, and the morphology features of the cured UG resin system were investigated by producing a three-layer plywood, FTIR, and SEM analysis. The results of dry and wet shear strength of plywood indicated that there was a positive effect of oxidized cassava starch on bonding strength of a three-layer plywood, and when the oxidized cassava starch content was increased to 45%, the dry strength could reach 1.21 MPa, and the wet strength was 0.72 MPa. The FTIR results showed that chemical reaction between UG resin and oxidized cassava starch was beneficial to the branched structure formation and higher cohesion strength of UG resin. Meanwhile, the tightness structure of enhanced UG resin system was observed by SEM analysis as well. These improved properties were contributed to water resistance improvement of UG resin.

Biodegradability of Cassava Starch/High Density Polyethylene Reactive Blend During Compost Burial

Starch is promising material to answer the environmental hot issues related to plastic wastes. Plasticized and gelatinized starch can behave as thermoplastic that completely biodegrade in nature. This study was aimed to investigate the biodegradability of cassava starch (CS) blended with high density polyethylene (HDPE). Simulated soil burial was applied using the compost. The blends were prepared by reactive mixing using Haake Rheomix internal mixer. The ratio of starch and HDPE was ranging from 30/70, 40/60, 50/50, 60/40, and 70/30. Dual hydrophobization was employed, i.e. addition acetic acid and polyethylene-grated maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA). Compost burial was performed indoor for 56 days. The surface appearance and morphology were investigated. Weight loss and change in tensile strength and elongation at break after burial also determined. Results findings showed that the increasing of cassava starch content and burial time decrease the tensile strength and elongation at break, however increased the weight loss of CS/HDPE reactive blend. In addition, evidence of biodegradation is shown by the appearance of some microorganism colonies on the surface of reactive blend and morphological changes in CS/HDPE reactive blend.

Functional and physicochemical properties of Durian seed flour blended with cassava starch

Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) seed flour (DSF) has very soft gel with high syneresis. Blending it with cassava starch (CS) could deliver strongly advantageous effects. The objective of this work was to investigate the functional and physicochemical properties of blends of CS and DSF. Experimentally, commercial cassava starch CS (18.18 ± 0.11% amylose) was blended with DSF (containing 55.44 ± 4.93% gum and 14.62 ± 0.07% amylose) in various CS/DSF ratios: 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, 20/80, 10/90, and 0/100 by dry weight. The key properties of those blends were investigated, namely swelling power (SP), solubility, pasting properties by the Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA), gelatinization temperature, and gel texture and syneresis. CS showed lower SP at 60 °C, but higher SP at 75 and 90 °C than DSF, while DSF had higher solubility than CS at all temperatures tested. The blends had SP and solubility between these extremes. RVA viscosities for all ratios of the CS/DSF blends were often below those of the individual components, with DSF influencing more than expected from its proportion. The peak viscosity (PV) of CS was significantly higher than that of DSF (3955 ± 37 vs. 1918 ± 17 mPa.s). The PV of CS/DSF blends with 10/90–60/40 ratios was slightly different from that of DSF, but increased strongly for the 70/30- 90/10 ratios. As regards gelatinization, CS had lower temperature range (62.66 ± 0.13–72.06 ± 0.21 °C,) than DSF (67.50 ± 0.55–79.35 ± 0.16 °C), while its enthalpy was higher (12.83 ± 0.81 vs. 5.38 ± 0.16 J/g). All the blends showed higher gelatinization temperature than CS but lower than DSF and their enthalpies had the opposite trend. Regarding the gel properties, gel hardness of CS was about five-fold higher than that of DSF (50.9 ± 30.27 vs. 9.59 ± 0.67, p < 0.05), while syneresis of CS was much lower (1.61 ± 0.33 vs. 58.30 ± 0.44%, p < 0.05) than of DSF. For their blends, it turned out that gel hardness increased and syneresis decreased with CS content in the blend. The gel hardness was synergistic for 90/10 and 80/20 ratios with about 50% increase over the pure components, and simultaneously the syneresis relative to plain DSF was reduced by over 50%. The results suggested that improved DSF properties can be achieved by blending with CS, and also a small amount of DSF (10–20%) has synergistic effect on gel hardness of the blend. Gum in the DSF plays an important role in the continuous phase of the paste and the gel.

Biodegradable Plastic from Cassava and Organic Acid as a Synthetic Plastic Replacement

Currently plastic has been widely used for various purposes of packaging food and beverages. The use of synthetic plastic is increasingly then become a waste that cannot be degraded and pollute the environment. In Southeast Asia generates 379.198 million tons of plastic waste per year, meanwhile, Indonesia became the first contributor to the largest plastic waste producer which is 187.2 million tons per year. Biodegradable plastic can be an alternative the eco-friendly and easily degraded packaging materials as one way to replaced synthetic plastic. Cassava flour could utilized to make biodegradable plastic with cassava starch content reach 81.6 %. The addition of sorbitol plasticizer is as a giver of elastic properties to the material and chitosan as an amplifier and antimicrobial. The variation of weight ratio in gram that used is organic acids 50(1), 60(2), and 70(3). The variation of sorbitol are 3(A), 6(B), and 9(C). The variation of chitosan are 1(i), 3(ii), and 5(iii). The organic acids used are apple vinegar and rice vinegar with 2% acetic acid as a comparison. The research procedure begins with making cassava starch, making a film of biodegradable plastic, and sample testing. The film of biodegradable plastic has performed by tensile strength test analysis, elongation at break test, and biodegradable test. The results showed that the highest of percent biodegradable is on 2Ci with the results is 64.58%. The best of mechanical properties reached by using apple vinegar with the results of tensile strength is 105.98 kg/cm2 and elongation at break is 129.91%.