Search

Proper sorting is one of the essential tools to enable the production of high-quality recyclates. However, the sorting process entails several challenges that may hinder the development of plastics circularity. The aim of this study is to understand the influence of color sorting on essential properties of recycled polyethylene. This study utilized a waste fraction primarily composed of high-density polyethylene sourced from post-consumer plastic waste. Among other pretreatment steps, the waste materials in form of flakes were color-sorted into five different colors, namely, three chromatic colors (incl. red, green, and blue) and two achromatic (incl. white and black). Afterwards, to produce recyclates with the specified colors, the color-sorted flakes were re-granulated using an industrial recycling extruder with filtration and degassing systems. To characterize the property profile of the resulting recyclates, several measurements including melt mass-flow rate (MFR); tensile tests; and Charpy notched impact tests were performed. Significant variations in the MFR values as well as the mechanical properties of the materials were observed. Moreover, to further investigate the influence of sorting, mixtures of the colored recyclates with various ratios were produced. The mixtures were compounded using a twin-screw compounder to generate new blends, which to a certain extent can simulate possible recyclates that could result from an unsorted input stream. Thereafter, the previously described characterization methods were also performed on the different blends to determine the changes in the material properties if the waste stream were unsorted. Additionally, as an attempt to test the applicability of existing mathematical mixing models, the material properties of the color sorted recyclates were used to calculate the property profile of the resulting blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable polymers have gained lots of interest and publicity. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a member of biodegradable thermoplastic polyesters, biologically derived by bacterial fermentation. These biodegradable, compostable and biocompatible polymers are of great interest in the production of medical textiles, disposable materials and packaging. However, slow crystallization rate and low thermal stability of PHAs limits the melt spinning of fibers and results in inadequate mechanical properties. In this study, two biodegradable polymers were coaxially combined in a spinneret for bicomponent fiber production with islands-in-the-sea geometry. The co-extrusion of a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) as the island polymer and a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the sea polymer having a higher thermal stability and faster crystallization enabled the stable winding of filaments. Following the filament production, the filaments were soaked in distilled water to remove the PVA sea polymer and PHBV micro fibers were obtained. Thermal analysis revealed that the complete removal of PVA was possible. Microscopic analysis showed that PHBV microfilaments (single filament diameter < 7 µm) have been successfully melt-spun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone marrow implantation had occurred with the assistance of titanium-based materials, however it includes specific hindrances inside the human body. To survive this significant disadvantage, researchers inferred that magnesium can be supplanted by the titanium yet it has too its disadvantages to compare that magnesium-based compounds can be utilized, yet there is a ton and loads of Mg-based amalgams can be shaped. Magnesium and magnesium-based compounds are in the spotlight for biomedical applications. Furthermore, a considerable lot of the beneficial things are seen over biodegradable polymers, ceramics and conventional metallic materials. Materials what's more, strategies: Magnesium, calcium, zinc, aluminum and manganese are the materials taken for the composite. Additionally, materials are gone through for ball milling processing, Hydraulic powered press and afterward materials had gone through for cylindrical heaters with argon - cleansing test and cold vacuum. After that it has gone for pressure test. Results: The acquired outcomes for Mg-Zn-Al-Ca, Mg-Zn-Ca-Mn (1) and Mg-Zn-Ca-Mn (2) is Fmax= 7.85 KN, 3.964 KN and 5.48 KN separately. End: To manufacture and break down the composite of magnesium, zinc, calcium, aluminum furthermore, manganese, powder metallurgy strategy is utilized at various sintering temperatures. It is testing yet still it is promising primarily getting these new sorts of biodegradable metallic gadgets/inserts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many civil engineering applications such as asphalt pavement, waste plastic resources can now be used as supplementation to achieve improved economy and to reduce environmental impact. In this investigation, the effect of adding a softened waste plastic (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) coating to the properties of coarse aggregate in a hot asphalt mixture were inspected. The adopted percentage of waste plastic chips varied from 0.6 to 1.8 % by weight of the coarse aggregate, and the Los Angeles abrasion value and water absorption percentages were then calculated for each mix. The density of the waste plastic-coated aggregate was also measured. The findings indicated that the aggregate properties were greatly improved by the addition of a waste plastic coating, with enhancement of several key properties increasing as the fraction of waste plastic increased. This may offer a practical use for waste plastic, reducing landfill, while supporting the development of improved hot mix asphalt for use in flexible pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the work developed, an overview and analysis of different types of shapes of ball mill lifters are made. An analysis has been made of the factors and parameters that are important to monitor in its operation to obtain the least wear of the grinding medium and to obtain the least consumption of electricity. Based on the analysis, 3 types of lifters and sizes were selected for further experiments. All components of the mill - drum, lifter liner, and grinding bodies will be designed using a CAD program, then printed using a 3D printer and installed on the laboratory ball mill. The material used for the grinding media will be made of bioplastic PLA (polylactide or polylactic acid). By using different shapes of lifters and different charge of ball mill it will be proven whether it affects the speed, trajectory and wear of the lifters in a ball mill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing demand for starch-based bioplastic because of increasing public awareness and also its unique properties such as renewable, biodegradable, abundance, non-toxic and more. However, due to undesirable characteristics such as poor mechanical and lack of water barrier properties have limited their potential. Despite their limitations, much research has shown the effectiveness addition of fillers (organic and inorganic) towards starch-based bioplastic to improve mechanical and barrier properties. Therefore, this review focuses on discussing the effect of organic filler (microcrystalline cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, fiber and starch nanocrystals) and inorganic filler (graphene oxide, eggshell powder, montmorillonite, and titanium dioxide nanoparticle) towards the mechanical and water barrier properties of starch-based bioplastic. Since both of the filler exhibited similar results, it can be concluded that by addition of filler either organic or inorganic into starch-based bioplastic can improve the mechanical and water barrier properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano fibrillated Cellulose (NFC) refers to nanoparticles derived from cellulose, serving as a reinforcing agent in bioplastics to enhance their mechanical properties. This research aims to develop cellulose-based macroinitiators from NFC for use as an eco-friendly bioplastic raw material. The NFC isolation process involved extracting α-cellulose from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB), encompassing steps such as delignification, swelling, bleaching, and hydrolysis. The cellulose isolation yield achieved was 29.33%. The synthesis of macroinitiators was undertaken to substitute the hydroxyl group (-OH) in cellulose with an alkyl halide, specifically Ethyl-α-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB). The FTIR spectra of α-cellulose and NFC exhibited primary absorption regions at wavelengths of 3411.01 cm−1 and 3317.3 cm−1; 1064.71 cm−1 and 1021.3 cm−1; and 1157.28 cm−1 and 1155.4 cm−1, indicating the presence of OH, CH, and COC bonds, respectively. The cellulose-BiB macroinitiator displayed absorption peaks at 3379.89 cm−1, 1749.24 cm−1, and 500-600 cm−1, signifying OH, C=O, and C-Br bonds, respectively. SEM analysis results indicated the separation of fibers due to the removal of hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin. TEM analysis revealed that the produced NFC had an average diameter of 9 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic plastic is difficult to disintegrate quickly, making it an environmental issue. The alternative solution is to produce bioplastics based on banana peel starch using polyvinyl alcohol as a matrix and cellulose fiber from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) as reinforcement. This study aims to analyze the rate ofbiodegradation and mechanical properties ofbioplastics based on banana peel starch and PVA with the addition of OPFB fiber reinforcement with cellulose fiber variations of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%. Based on the study's results, the percentage of degradation with the fastest treatment was without the addition of cellulose fiber variations, with an average weight loss percentage of 31.2% on day 3, 36.3% on day 6, and 44.9% on day 9. The addition of OPEFB cellulose fiber causes the biodegradation rate to be slower because OPEFB cellulose is hydrophobic. In testing the mechanical properties, the highest tensile strength was the addition of 8% cellulose fiber with a tensile strength of 3.6 MPa, a strain at break of 22%, and a modulus of elasticity with a percentage value of 16.1 MPa. The mechanical property values obtained indicated that OPEFB cellulose fiber could improve the mechanical properties of the biocomposite. This result informs that the OPEFB fiber-reinforced banana peel starch/polyvinyl alcohol hybrid biocomposites could have the potential for food packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics-based food packaging is increasingly used recently especially, for fresh products such as fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, the plastic packaging for those products made from fossil fuel-based such as PP, PE, and PVC is not biodegradable and only counters for water resistance. This research aims to isolate the LCNF from sugarcane leaves and to evaluate the effect of LCNF on plasticized agar bioplastics. Lignin-containing nanocellulose (LCNF) from sugarcane leaves which has a lignin content of about 4.12% and cellulose of about 69.65% used as an active agent for agar-based bioplastics. LCNF was produced using an ultrafine masuko grinder with the stone gap in-30,-50,-70, and-10 mm with 5 cycles for each gap. Some LCNF in about 5% up to 20% was blended in plasticized agar solution at 90 ˚C for about an hour then cast in 20 x 20 cm molding. The bioplastics were conditioned at room temperature for 24 h and then oven-dried at 50 ˚C for another 24 h. The bioplastics of agar-LCNF with a thickness of about 0.1 mm have been produced. The novel finding of this study is LCNF incorporated with residual silica dioxide of sugarcane leaves. The addition of LCNF up to 15-20% improves water uptake ratio by about 54%, water solubility by about 5%, and water vapor penetration rate by about 73.81% than plasticized agar. The agar-LCNF bioplastic remains transparent with less UV blocking ability. The mechanical properties especially elongation at break enhance about 22% more than plasticized agar. The thermal stability of agar-LCNF bioplastic improves by about 3.7% for Tonset and 5,1% for Tmax. The agar-LCNF bioplastic is remarkably active on barrier ability which has potential as fresh food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia is very abundant of agricultural waste including rice husk, it can be used as raw material for bioplastics. This research has been effecting of rice husk cellulose extraction method on the physico-chemical properties bioplastics with addition plasticizers. The extraction method consists of precipitation and heating methods. This study to determine effect of cellulose preparation with extraction on physico-chemical properties of bioplastics. Rice husk precipitation method was each addition 5% NaOH and Na2CO3, The rice husk autoclave method added 6% NaOH, 2.5% H2O2 and water. Rice husk were added NaOH 5 M of microwave exposure. The results of maseration method was greater are 55.68% cellulose content than using autoclave and microwave pretreatments, but the color was whiter through microwave exposure. The tensile strength value of bioplastics with the optimum extraction and heating methods (autoclave and microwave) has a tensile strength of 2.08 MPa; 3.96 MPa, 2.57 MPa and 0.97% elongation; 0.54%; and 0.75%. The physical characteristic data obtained were using a two-way randomized completely design analyzed of variance (ANOVA) if there is very real difference proceed with the Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). F-value (557.04) > F-table (4.46) has shown that cellulose extraction pretreatment method had a very significant effect on all test parameters. Soaking and heating greatly affect the amount of cellulose from the rice husks produced. Likewise the white color produced after beaching. Rice Husk Cellulose Bioplastics can be degraded within 21 days on soil media. Functional groups that appeared the peak of O-H stretching of PSS bioplastic has a shift in wave number from 3414.00 to 3441.01 cm−1. The AUS and MCS bioplastics which shifted from 3415.93 to 3419.79 cm−1 and 3412.08 to 3439.08 cm−1. The C-N peak was in the 1350-1000 cm−1 area. 1641.42 cm−1 for MSS and AUS bioplastics, H-O-H as a water absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of nickel-impregnated niobium oxide catalysts in the catalytic reforming of pyrolysis oils produced from low density polyethylene (LDPE) waste plastics. Wet impregnation was used to synthesize nickel-impregnated niobium oxide catalysts with varying amounts of Ni metal loading. SEM-EDS, XRD, and FT-IR were used to gain a better understanding of the catalyst characteristics such as crystallinity, surface topography, and functional groups. The LDPE pyrolysis oils were catalytically reformed in a fixed-tubular reactor with 2 mL/h flowrate of feed by using 0.5 g NiO/Nb2O5 catalysts at 450 °C with different loading of nickel onto catalysts (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%wt), and N2 (99.9%) as the carrier gas. The highest yield of the improving oils from LDPE was reached by 67.33%. The products of the catalytic reforming process in terms of the chemical compounds were investigated by using GC-MS analysis. The GC-MS analysis shows that the improved oils mostly comprise aliphatic (straight, branched-chain of paraffin and olefin) and aromatic compounds. The carbon number of improved oils is mostly in the C6-C26 range, with the high hydrocarbon content of the gasoline at 76.46% (C5-C12). The characterization of improved oils, including viscosity, density, and calorific value, was examined to confirm the purpose of catalyst function and that it was within the fuel standard. The results confirm that the NiO/Nb2O5 catalyst has good performance in the catalytic reforming process of pyrolysis oil derived from LDPE waste plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is based on the problem of microplastics found in water, where plastic packaging is now widely used in food and beverage packaging and raises social concerns about its health effects. The microplastics, small plastic particles with a size of 5 mm or less, found in the body can be toxic, cause hormonal imbalances, heart disease, infertility, and obesity. Research on methods for analyzing microplastics in water is still limited in Indonesia, this study identify and analyze the microplastic content in the drinking water and its saurce in Indonesia using raman spectroscopy method. The analysis of microplastics content was performed on various drinking water samples and their sources. The test included 7 water samples from different brands, water sources and different water bottle industries in Indonesia. Content analysis was performed in three stages, starting with the preparatory stage, the filtration process. The filtration process is performed using filter paper that matches the size of the sample to be inspected. In addition, various particles trapped in the filter paper were analyzed under a microscope to separate the microplastic particles. At last, a raman spectroscopy test was performed to determine the type of microplastics present in the contents of the water sample. Through the analysis and study of the content of various water samples carried out, the analyzed water content found various types of microplastics in the form of fragments, fibers, filaments, and films, most of which were PET (Polyethylene terephthalate). There are also found to be polypropylene and PVC (Polyvinyl chloride). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental issues are the most critical and urgent factor for the increasing use of biopolymers in broader applications. Research on chitosan as a bioplastic material opens vast opportunities to improve its weak mechanical properties. These include blending with biopolymer/synthetic polymers as a matrix or incorporating with nanofillers. The use of organic solvents in dissolving chitosan is also interesting for further research. In this study, we synthesized a chitosan/PVA-based biofilm composite in five different ratios (100/0, 80/20, 60/40, 40/60, 0/100) in acetic acid and citric acid with the addition of 10% weight glycerol to get the optimum composition of mechanical properties. This optimum film would be conducted with SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and Cellulose Nano Crystals (CNCs) to evaluate the reinforcement effects. Various properties, including surface morphology, functional, mechanical properties, and thermal behavior, were characterized. The experimental result showed that the tensile strength of the composite film in acetic acid was higher than in citric acid. With the addition of 2.5% w/w of SiO2 NPs, the tensile strength of the composite film got its maximum value, 21.01 MPa, and the maximum of 25.77 MPa with 10% w/w of CNCs, which was 115,7% higher than with of the pure chitosan/PVA film in the ratio of 80/20 which was the optimum. The effect of adding CNC and SiO2 NPS has the opposite effect. The addition of filler CNCs will improve mechanical properties, while SiO2 NPs tend to decrease mechanical properties. All film characterizations demonstrated that the physicochemical interaction between CNCs and chitosan/PVA molecules improved their mechanical and thermal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research emphasizes the application of bio-based nanosilica, which was obtained from rice husk, for the purpose of improving the characteristics of discarded empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers. One of the lignocellulose biomass byproducts from the palm oil industry is EFB fibre, which is typically used as a fuel source in boilers. Lightweight, nonabrasive, and biodegradable characteristics of EFB fibres make them ideal for usage as a reinforcing agent in composite and plastic applications. Unfortunately, the hydrophilic nature of EFB fibre results in weak interfaces because EFB surface and polymer matrix exhibit low interfacial adhesion, which may negatively affect the mechanical characteristics. To remedy this situation, the EFB fibre will be modified via environmental friendly ultrasound assisted alkaline and acrylic acid treatment. The bio-based nanosilica will be introduced during the acrylic acid treatment, in which can further improve the thermo-mechanical properties and control the biodegradability of the composite. The treated EFB fiber was characterized with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and tensile testing. Findings reveal that the impurities on the surface of EFB fibre were washed away after the treatment and impregnation of nanosilica on the surface of EFB fibre were visualised. The results obtained from FTIR confirm that the hemicellulose has been eliminated within the range of 2900-1700 cm−1. Tensile test demonstrates that small amount of bio-based nanosilica improves the mechanical properties by 91.11% as compared to raw EFB fibre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado waste is currently not used optimally, only disposed of as waste that is not useful and causes environmental pollution. In avocado waste, there is a high concentration of starch, about 80.1%, consisting of 44.3% of amylose, 37.7% of amylopectin, 10.2% of water, 1.21% of crude fiber, 31.3% of starch yield, and 15 to 20% of oil. Avocado seeds and skins have the potential for the production of organic biodegradable plastic. In order to produce biodegradable plastics, three different methods are used: (1) hydrolysis in an acidic medium (2) hydrolysis followed by plasticization (3) hydrolysis and mixing of chitosan. The results showed that the combination of hydrolysis, mixing of chitosan, and plasticization was very important to obtain a material with optimal mechanical properties and biodegradability to be used as biodegradable plastic. In addition, it can reduce organic waste pollution, because all avocado waste, namely seeds and skins is used as materials for making biodegradable plastic so that nothing is wasted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern era, plastic is non-biodegradable and thus contributes to pollution, the utilization of it has increased drastically. Bio composite materials are described as the combination of two different natural fibers with natural fillers. It's biodegradable nature which is a crucial attribute to limit the usage of plastics. The present review work focused on discussing different natural fiber derived from agricultural waste for instance, from the fibrous mesocarp of coconut fruit, coir is a strong, stiff lignocellulosic fiber that is biodegradable. Coir produces natural fiber that is environmentally favorable and due to its high lignin concentration, coir fibers provide a special combination of toughness, waterproofness, and weather resistance. However, sugarcane bagasse then it constitutes very high cellulose content, a high yield, and a significant annual regeneration capacity. It is biodegradable, inexpensive, lightweight, and strong in a certain way, recyclable, hydrophilic, and highly branched. Sugarcane bagasse was utilized as the experimental material, and it was chemically altered using NaOH pellets, potassium permanganate, phosphoric acid, and oxalic acid, which was later followed by a step-by-step treatment that included alkali, permanganate, and phosphoric acid in order to improve the interfacial adhesion with epoxy resin. A type of reactive polymer with epoxide through epoxy, it belongs to the member of thermosetting polymers family. Epoxy has strong adhesive properties and is extremely durable, making it suitable for use as a reinforcement material for metals, glass, and wood. Because sugarcane bagasse is a naturally occurring bio composite material, and tends to clump during processing, this lowers its resistance to moisture and produces worse fiber dispersion in the matrix, potentially reducing its value as reinforcement. The alkaline treatment is the most practical and ideal solution to this issue. When sugar cane bagasse was modified utilizing alkaline, permanganate, and phosphoric treatments, along with epoxy as a resin, it was discovered that the toughness, resistance to moisture, resistance to chemical assaults, and strength had all significantly increased. Following alkali treatment, the epoxy-reinforced resin's elasticity modulus, tensile strength, and mechanical characteristics all improved. Numerous researches have also demonstrated that mixing sugarcane bagasse and pine sap will be environmentally friendly because both materials are derived from renewable resources. Pine sap is a delicate substance, but when combined with other biocomposites materials, it becomes more resilient to impacts and has greater mechanical and tensile strength. Being hydrophobic and soluble in non-polar or neural solvents like ethyl ether and hexane is a crucial feature of pine sap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomaterial is a substance which is designed to interact with the living system without giving any side-effect. Petrochemical plastics are in use for more than a century. Plastics have found use in different forms in various industries like food, cosmetics, textiles, medical sciences, engineering, and agriculture. Synthetic plastics take millions of years to degrade hence economies have switched to the production of biodegradable plastics. Present methods of synthesizing biomaterials use biological methods like microbial fermentations, which makes biomaterial synthesis and production, cost-effective and eco-friendly. The aim of this research article is to analyse the present state of research in large-scale biomaterial production and its safety for mankind and the environment. This review provides insight into the literature concerning the use of various bacteria-derived polymers and their use in the medical, healthcare, and food industry. This review will also consider the unique abilities of bacteria in using industrial waste and by-products of industries as substrate and their utilization as carbon and nitrogen source. The review will list the literature mentioning the barriers in present research based on microbial production of biomaterials and future directions to improve the production of biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural polymers are expected to be used as raw materials for biodegradable plastics production to replace synthetic plastics, which are known as not eco-friendly due to their difficulty to degrade microorganisms. Among modified cellulose derivatives, cellulose acetate can be used as raw material for biodegradable plastics. Cellulose can be obtained from lignocellulose material such as fiber waste of sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) trunk. This research aims to produce cellulose acetate with the degree of substitution value that meets a standard plastic raw material. Cellulose acetate was prepared through several processes such as extraction, delignification, bleaching, and acetylation. The experimental factor was a variation of the reaction time of delignification (15, 30, and 60 min) followed by acetylation (30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 min). The delignification process was carried out under pressurized conditions by using NaOH 10%, at 50 °C for 60 minutes, producing pulp with 0.24% of lignin, 10.87% of hemicellulose, and 88.49% of cellulose. The bleaching was done by using 10% hydrogen peroxide at pH 9 with a reaction temperature of 70 °C for 5 hours, yielding white pulp containing lignin was 0.01%, hemicellulose of 9.95%, and cellulose content of 90.01%. The cellulose acetate was obtained through the acetylation process by using acetic anhydride, and iodine as a catalyst for 30 minutes of generated cellulose acetate with a degree of substitution of 1.60+0.005. Cellulose acetate product has met the requirements as a biodegradable plastic raw material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production process in palm flour industry in addition to producing palm flour, this industry also produces waste, one of which is a solid waste in the form of fiber powder which still contains starch. The waste still has the potential to become a product that has added value. This research will discuss the potential of palm fiber powder waste into biodegradable foam (biofoam) and its characterization. Making biofoam using solid waste from the palm flour industry with an addiotional source of cellulose, rice straw. Biofoam formulation was carried out in 9 series of experiments with an additional ingredient as bounding agent, Polyvinyl Alcohol also Magnesium Stearat for prevent sticking to the molding when pressing process. The manufacturing process used thermopressing technology, by mixing the ingredients according to the formulation and then pressing using a hot-pressing machine at a temperature of around 145-165 0C in 30 minutes. The experiment of making biofoam was carried out with nine formulations that produced the best results, namely sample C5. Sample C5 was made from palm pulp waste with a content of 30%, straw with a content of 15%, PVA and Aquades with a content of 25%, and magnesium stearate with a content of 5%. Characteristics of the results of physical, mechanical, and biodegradation properties for C5 biofoam obtained water absorption of 68.674%, tensile strength of 2.297 MPa, elongation of 17.040%, Young's modulus of 0.219%, and a degradation rate of 67.468% with burial for 7 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor gasses produced following postharvest respiration negatively correlate with the postharvest life of fresh chilli. Therefore, using an active material that can adsorb the gasses and reduce their concentrations may improve its postharvest life. This study investigated the effect of activated nanostructured zeolite (nano zeolite) placed in different plastic packaging and temperature conditions on chilli's characteristics and postharvest life during storage. The top-down, alkali-prepared activated nano zeolite and then calcination methods. Fresh cold samples and sachets of nano zeolite were packed in three types of packaging (perforated mica plastic, perforated LDPE plastic, and bioplastic film) and two temperature conditions (28±2°C and 14±2℃). The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with two replicates. The results showed that applying sachets-activated nano zeolite could lower the concentration of postharvest respiration gasses by up to 20%. Fresh chilli packed in perforated LDPE packaging with an addition of activated nano zeolite at the temperature of 14±2℃ remained fresh with bright red color and the least weight loss up to 20 days after storage. On the contrary, the chilli control samples started to show quality damages and significant weight loss after 12 days of storage. The results suggest that activated nano zeolite could act as a suitable adsorbent of postharvest respiration gasses and hence retard quality damages during storage and improve the postharvest life of fresh produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stricter environmental protection measures are being enacted with the aim of reducing carbon emissions as public awareness of climate change rises. Renewable resources are created as a result. In this work, Polylactic acid (PLA) is used as a matrix for the fabrication of hybrid composites for sustainability, and jute and sisal fibres are used as reinforcement materials. This paper has been presented for the replacement of harmful synthetics and plastics. The strength of hybrid compound material is enhanced. The composite containing continuous banana and sisal fibers is fabricated by hybridization, loading sequence, and alignment of unidirectional continuous fibers by PLA as it is biodegradable plastic used for binding. The composite is made by using the technique sandwich (PLA-raw fibers-PLA). Fabrication is technically done by using manual hydraulic compression molding method. The maximum tensile and flexural strength of 80Mpa and 93.4 MPa was obtained [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid population increase and industrialization are the cause of the large use of disposable cutlery which in turn increases as solid waste. India is suffering from severe environmental contamination as a result of inappropriate trash disposal, particularly plastic waste. Many researchers are working on disposable methods for the safe disposal of plastic waste and also trying to find an alternative for disposable cutlery. From an environmental standpoint, we must abandon disposable tableware made of polluting plastic in favor of biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternatives. One such product which is popular these days is edible tableware but this project focuses on the material and its properties as well as on the process and mechanisms involved in making edible tableware that can be only eaten by livestock. To know more about the material 3d model of the tableware is made, it is assigned with different materials and properties then it is simulated on Ansys, and results are collected for comparing the material. This gives an idea for the artist working on making edible tableware for sustainable development. Edible plate with different materials serves a different purpose; wheat bran can be used in making edible plates that will be eaten by a human while plate which will only feed livestock can be made from wheat straw. Based on the analysis made through the study, wheat straw is the best material because of its raw material availability and cost-efficiency. By comparing how each material physical property is affected relative to the thickness of the plate, a 2.5mm thickened plate was the most efficient and produced optimal results in all the analyses from this we conclude wheat straw is the best option for making edible cutlery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioplastics are materials processed from renewable natural resources and equipped with competitive properties, which aim to replace traditional oil-based plastics in sustainable food packaging. Since bioplastics are most often targeted to replace current alternatives in the same production processes and machines, their functionality in processing and above all in end use is vital for the change to take place smoothly. The aim of this study was to determine how process parameters, especially forming depth and moulding temperatures, affect the 3D-formability of plastic alternatives in thermoforming process. A bioplastic sample, Cellulose Acetate Propionate (CAP), selected according to the requirements of the end-use application and oil-based competitor, APET/EVOH/PE multilayer plastic, as a reference were tested in forming experiments. Sample materials were tested using an industrial grade Form-Fill-Seal (FFS) thermoforming line equipped with a custom-designed sheet-forming chamber. The final products, i.e. thermoformed tray packages, were evaluated by measuring their torsional stiffness and compression strength. Based on the results, the more than half thinner Bioplastic sample was found to have notably sufficient properties for the thermoforming process and the manufacture of the test package. From the point of view of processability and the functionality of the final product, both samples were found to be applicable, and the change of material type between them does not cause measures greater than fine-tuning of the thermoforming process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to move towards a more sustainable future, bioplastics are being promoted as sustainable alternatives to plastics. Nevertheless, the market transition to bioplastics requires the materials to be incorporated into already existing manufacturing processes with the capability of creating a variety of three-dimensional customized shapes. Thermoforming is a widely used process in the plastics industry to manufacture a wide range of products of different sizes. However, thermoforming of several types of bioplastics has received relatively scant research to date. Therefore, this study examines the feasibility of thermoforming three bioplastics, Polylactic Acid (PLA), Cellulose Acetate Propionate (CAP), and Bio-Polyethylene Terephthalate (Bio PET). Materials were tested using an industrial Form-Fill-Seal (FFS) thermoforming line equipped with a custom-designed sheet-forming chamber. Additionally, the results were compared to a commonly used thermoforming plastic, multilayer polyethylene/polyethylene terephthalate. The aim is to provide insight into the possibilities of this transition from a perspective of energy efficiency, processing speed, and possible shape-making, with an assessment of the optimal forming window for materials and a detailed analysis of the formed products. A further investigation is conducted into factors that may hamper the thermoforming performance of the materials being investigated. Results indicate that the thermoforming performance and processability of the studied materials differ clearly; PLA and BioPET yet face limitations in processability considering their properties and possibilities for their incorporation into existing thermoforming lines, whereas CAP material can compete the commercial materials on the basis of product shape, production speed, and energy requirements in thermoforming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of non-biodegradable plastic causes piles of plastic waste that will pollute the environment for a long time. Poly-lactic acid (PLA) is considered a green polymer due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, there are some limitations in applying PLA as a bioplastic. The use of rice husk microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and clay as fillers are considered possible routes to improve the characterization of PLA biocomposite. Extraction of MCC was carried out by several process, namely: alkali treatment, bleaching process, and acid hydrolysis. Morphological analysis of MCC was observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that MCC is short, irregular, and rough. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed the removal of non-cellulose constituents. Furthermore, fabrication of PLA biocomposite was done by solvent casting method. The response of the developed biocomposite resulted in high water absorption properties with the addition of filler. The results is accordance with the the rate of biodegradation of biocomposite films which can be observed through burial in the soil. In addition, this study presents a slight improvement in the characterization of mechanical properties, namely PLA/10% Clay and PLA/10% MCC have higher strain than pure PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is widely used as raw material for clear, strong, and lightweight plastics that have been exploited in the packaging market. Although the use of plastics makes human's life easier, their waste has become a major environmental problem. Recycling plastics-based waste is still expensive and highly energy consuming. Recently two steps synergic degradation of PET has been discovered in Ideonella sakaiensis in which PET is converted into mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid (MHET) catalyzed by PETase, and MHET is further hydrolyzed into terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol catalyzed by MHETase. This discovery offers a promising and eco-friendlier solution to the global environmental crisis of plastic pollution. In this work, we have cloned the MHETase gene synthetically designed based on IsMHETase. The synthetic gene was codon optimized for protein expression in Escherichia coli. Aiming to obtain extracellular MHETase, the recombinant enzyme was produced in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and its secretion was mediated by a mutated pelB signal sequence. Expression of MHETase was induced by IPTG at 37°C for 5 h. Intracellular, periplasmic, and extracellular fractions were extracted using different methods. Intracellular and periplasmic fraction was obtained from a lysate of sonicated and osmotic shocked cells, respectively, while extracellular fraction was yielded from concentrated cell free culture. Those three fractions were further analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western Blot using anti-6X HisTag antibodies. We found that the recombinant MHETase was majority expressed as inclusion bodies and distinctively observed after purification of solubilized protein. Western Blot analysis of solubilized fraction showed a stronger signal at ~62 kDa than soluble intracellular protein fraction. Active MHETase were observed in refolded protein fraction and generated 0.4015 U.mL-1 of esterase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste is the main problem that causes environmental pollution due to its non-biodegradable properties. One of the efforts to overcome this problem is the development of bioplastics. However, bioplastic still has a drawback, namely a low mechanical strength. The modification of bioplastic by adding rice straw nanofiber or zinc oxide (ZnO) was developed to enhance the mechanical properties and the degree of biodegradability. Various percentages of rice straw nanofiber or zinc oxides (0%, 1%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%,18%) were added to the starch aqueous of Canna discolor to improve the mechanical properties and the degree of biodegradability. The results showed that adding a rice straw nanofiber increases the mechanical strength and biodegradability of starch bioplastic from Canna discolor. In contrast, adding zinc oxide improved mechanical strength but decreased biodegradability. The composition percentage of 12% filler has produced the highest tensile strength (5.65 MPa for adding a rice straw nanofiber and 6.14 MPa for zinc oxide), which is twice larger than the tensile strength of pure bioplastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, several methods are investigated and incorporated to improve the performance of Bituminous Mixes. The present work is concerned with the use of waste plastics obtained from low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) milk pouches, carry bags and Polypropylene (PP) plastics in the form of reprocessed granules in the Bituminous Mixes. Marshall Method of Mix Design was used to produce mixes with zero percent plastic to obtain a Control Mix and separate mixes were also produced and tested to carry out the volumetric analysis for mixes with Milk Pouch plastic, Carry bag plastic, and PP plastic. Finally a combination of all three types of plastics; Milk pouches, Carry bags, and PP granules were used at 6 percent of Bitumen content and 8 percent of Bitumen content to produce Marshall Mixes and volumetric analysis were done to ascertain the performance of Bituminous Mixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of its qualities and applications, plastic has taken on a vital role in today's world. Plastics are lightweight, chemically inert, and cost-effective. Plastics are now widely used in everyday life for a variety of purposes, including both domestic and industrial ones. Waste plastics take almost a century to disintegrate on the surface of the planet. Because waste plastic accumulates on the earth's surface for longer periods of time, it poses a hazard to the environment by releasing chemicals into the atmosphere and causing damage to the ozone layer. The current study examines the performance of waste plastic fuel blended with pure diesel in a diesel engine, as well as the conversion of waste plastics to fuel oil. B20D80 (20 percent waste plastic oil and 80 percent pure Diesel) is used to test its performance in this investigation. The appropriateness of Pyrolysis oil is determined by testing its physiochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In renewable energy technologies, a significant contribution and steady growth is demonstrated by polymeric materials, in particular in the development of solar energy. Their potential applications are associated with the entire spectrum of renewable energy sources (wind, water, solar energy and bioenergy). Usage of PM leads to preserving natural resources and does not harm the environment. The contribution of non-traditional renewable energy sources to the global energy balance in the future is estimated from 1-2% to 10%, although today there are countries where the share of these sources exceeds half of the national energy balance. The physical and chemical properties of polymeric materials in solid, viscous, glassy states (plastics, rubber, fibers) have found their application in various industries and energy. The development of composite materials based on them with specified properties is a highly efficient and economical solution (rubber, sealants and adhesives, paints and varnishes, foam plastics and honeycomb plastics, thermoplastics, thermoplastics, etc.). Thus, article makes an emphasis on the current state of polymeric materials (PMs) with regards to their application as new renewable energy sources (RES). The statistics and current trends across the world concerning PMs will be discussed as well as methods of their production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this project is to create biodegradable plastics for single-use and experiment with the different methodologies of production of biodegradable plastic and investigate its different properties of it. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimated the average plastic waste in India is around 6.92 percent of municipal solid waste. It is also estimated that by 2050, plastics could already be responsible for 15 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. However, the main objective is to provide the methodologies to produce biodegradable plastics by using renewable biomass resources which will reduce the effects of plastic wastes in the environment. The project deals with various factors in the production of biodegradable plastics with a detailed survey on these factors. We hope to find an alternative to replace conventional petroleum-based plastics with biodegradable plastics which will be less harmful to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the key parameters of a country's socio-economic achievement is the construction of roads and highways. The technology for road construction has always been improved particularly in terms of quality and environmental aspects, for which the idea of using plastic emerged recently. Plastic roads are an auspicious strategy for lowering the quantity of land filled plastic, minimizing the dependency on depleted bituminous materials, and enhancing asphalt pavement performance. Assessing the environmental and human health aspects of the modified asphalt mixtures estimates the safety level of the product when exposed to the ecosystem. The objective of this study is to assess the preliminary environmental and human health hazards of our polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics modified asphalt mixtures using fluorescence microscopy technique and polymer risk index. The mixtures were prepared by wet mixing the asphalt binder with different proportions of powdered microplastic polymers. The asphalt mixture that contained 100% HDPE had the highest crystal formation. Combining at least 5g of PP, reduced the risk index of the asphalt mixture. All the plastic polymers used in our study are ranked as the least environmentally hazardous chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic is one of the most common materials in modern society. However, improper plastic management and disposal practices cause serious environmental pollution. Microplastics that pollute the environment, particularly the marine environment, are currently issues of global concern related to plastic waste. Microplastics can come from a variety of sources due to degradation. This study examined into how plastic degrades in river and sea water, specifically polyethylene plastic bags, which are commonly found in the environment as plastic packaging. The effects of two different water environments (river water and sea water) were examined for three months using immersion simulations without light, using three types of plastic bags (degradable and two types of recycled). In this study, characterization was carried out using FTIR analysis, material decomposition analysis, tensile strength measurement, and morphology analysis. After 3 months of immersion, the FTIR spectra of recycled plastic bag brand A and degradable plastic bag show changes in the intensity of amorphous regions, but peaks of amorphous regions in FTIR spectra of recycled plastic bag brand B could not be seen. Generally, tensile strength decreased for all three plastics, with recycled plastic bag brand A showing the greatest decrease when compared to other types of plastic bags. Furthermore, the surface morphology of all plastic bags shows degradation in the form of crazing and the addition of roughness to the surface. Among the two types of immersion water, seawater had a greater impact on the degradation of three types of plastic bags. This study found that water, particularly sea water, has an impact on the chemical, morphology and mechanical performance of polyethylene plastic bags, particularly recycled types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research is aimed to investigate the influence of evaporation and puffing characteristics on the exhaust gas emissions of waste plastic oil and desired blends with petro diesel. Different volumetric proportions of plastic oil blends such as P20, P40, P60 and P80 are prepared and their thermo-physical properties were measured. The evaporation rates of prepared blends were evaluated in a convective environment and compared with the non-blended plastic oil, traditional petrol diesel. These were supplied to a test engine for evaluation of combustion and emission characteristics. The results are shown that the puffing is formed specifically at 773K to 873K at fluctuation evaporation phase in the prepared blends whereas P20 and P80 possess similar specific fuel consumption with huge variation in CO formation at exhaust emissions. The increase in temperature is reduced the time for the formation of bubble and puffing at higher volume blends but the phenomena of incomplete combustion increased the emissions rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the global rise in the use of plastics, the emerging concern of the management of these waste plastics by converting them into useful fuels are discussed in the paper. The paper discusses about what type of harm the waste plastics are causing to not only to the humans but also to the plants and animals. Then strategies are discussed to come up with an efficient way to manage these wastes. It was observed that extraction of biofuels and products similar to it was a pretty viable way of managing these wastes thus the various pyrolysis techniques were discussed. Not only the conventional methods but the non-conventional methods were also discussed. Then a brief explanation was given to get an idea about engine testing and ECU tuning. Also, besides the engine testing other tests were discussed in brief for comparing different fuels and to get the idea of its properties were discussed. The experiments conducted were in a compression ignition engine and the results were summarized in the paper. The integration of artificial neural networking for the purpose of optimization was also discussed. Upon getting an idea about the process, the effect of the derived Waste Plastic Oil (WPO) was seen with various proportion of it blended with diesel and under the influence of some oxygenated additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioplastic, also known as biodegradable plastic, is made from renewable materials, including starch, vegetable oil, and bacteria. The usage of plastic is massive, harming the environment's long-term sustainability. Indonesia has had a problem with plastic trash. If possible, develop environmentally-friendly plastic packaging materials, such as biodegradable plastic (bioplastic). The goal of this study was to see how different amounts of chitosan and glycerol affected water absorption, tensile strength, elongation at break, biodegradation of bioplastics, and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) on bioplastics made from corn starch, as well as make assumptions about marketing costs or the economic price of the bioplastics made. Water absorption tests, tensile strength tests, elongation at break testing, biodegradation tests, and FTIR tests are used to determine the properties of bioplastics. The greatest water absorption test bioplastic was 1.5439 g in variation four chitosan, and the lowest was 0.9795 g in variation 3. The highest tensile strength test value was 0.0763 N/mm2 in interpretation five bioplastics, and the lowest was 0.0287 N/mm2 in variation 3. The biodegradation test had the highest percentage of mass loss, with the highest elongation in the breaking test being 632.8433 N/mm2 in the 3rd variation of chitosan and the lowest being 332.9006 N/mm2 in the 4th variation of chitosan. The most mass loss percentage is discovered in variation 2 of 3.2207 percent. In comparison, the smallest mass loss percentage is found in variation 3 of 0.7670 percent, and the functional groups for the FTIR test are OH in the group 5 variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of plastic in daily life results in environmental pollution. Synthetic plastics are difficult to degrade in nature so it is necessary to be environmentally friendly plastics made from starch, cellulose acetate and glycerol derived from nature. In this study starch was obtained from tapioca flour, while cellulose acetate was obtained from CPO waste. This research aims to determine the effect of cellulose acetate and glycerol on the resulting bioplastic characteristics based on strong tensile tests, biodegradation tests, water resistance tests, FTIR tests and TGA tests. Bioplastic manufacturing is carried out by varying the weight of cellulose acetate 0.5 g, 1.5 g 2 g 3g; and vary the amount of glycerol 2, 2,5, 3, 3,5 and 4 ml. The results showed bioplastics obtained in the form of brownish yellow sheets, strongest pull 0.49 MPa and a degradation time of 8 days, obtained at glycerol 2 ml and cellulose acetate 3 gr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancement of material engineering makes biopolymeras an important because of its applications. The aim of this paper is to study the influence of zinc oxide nanofiller on the mechanical properties of biodegradable plastic cassava starch films. Experimental observations of mechanical properties of biodegradable plastic cassava starch films with different percentages of zinc oxide and glycerol are reported. Biodegradable cassava starch-based zinc oxide reinforced composite polymeric films were prepared by casting technique. The zinc oxide content in the films was varied from 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1.0% (w/w) by weight of starch. Structural characterization was done by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Surface morphologies of the composites were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The result showed that Tensile strength (TS) was improved significantly with the addition of zinc oxide but elongation at break (EB %) of the composites decreased. The maximum tensile strength obtained was 22.30 kgf / mm on addition of zinc oxide by 0.6 percent and plasticizer by 25%. Based on data of FTIR, the film plastic that produced did not happen change function group so we can know that interaction in film plastic produced just physical interaction. Biodegradable plastic film based on cassava starch-zinc oxide and plasticizer glycerol showed that interesting mechanical properties being transparent, clear, homogeneous, flexible, and easily handled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A paradigm shift occurs in history's environmentally conscious society, as hazardous cutting fluids are being phased out and biodegradable oil-based cutting fluids are introduced. Vegetable oils are potential ecologically friendly metal cutting fluids and have the potential to provide significant relief from a wide range of health problems caused by synthesized cutting fluids, including itchy skin, harmful particulates, ingestion, and so on. Critically, the current article evaluates the possibility of achieving the goal. We can accomplish long-term green production by utilizing environmentally friendly vegetable oil cutting fluids. According to this research series, vegetable oils could be used for synthetic fluids. This alternative may prove to be a cost-effective and effective method of achieving environmentally friendly machining. Bio-degradable oil has a high viscous index, a more excellent pour point, an increased flash point, superior mechanical properties, and is environmentally friendly. Even though biodegradable lubricants are one of the most environmentally friendly options for lubrication, their properties are slightly inferior to conventional mineral oil. Incorporating effective additives into the base stock of biodegradable oil is a popular solution to this problem. It results in a considerable improvement in the lubricant's thermal, tribological, and anti-oxidation characteristics. Nanoparticles are an effective additive that can be used to improve the properties of biodegradable lubricants. They are becoming increasingly popular. This paper discusses biodegradable oils, nanoparticles, and the improvement of biodegradable lubricant qualities due to the use of nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, a popular method is growing plants in root-penetrable shells planted together with the plant. However, existing methods for growing plants have disadvantages. For this reason, we have presented a technology for production of a biodegradable composite polyhydroxybutyrate and lignin-based material for containers. The paper describes the method for producing biodegradable composites, provides the material density hardness, tensile strength, and impact strength data. Based on the resulting data analysis, it was concluded that the optimal content of wood filler for creating a biodegradable container is 40%-50% since the composite material has the highest physical and mechanical characteristics in this range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overconsumption of plastic usage has led to a detrimental effect on the environment such as microplastic pollution that has become a great danger to aquatic life. Bio-based polymers have become feasible alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics and there has been a marked increase in biodegradable materials for use in packaging, agriculture, medicine, and other areas. Natural fibers are environmentally friendly resources used to strengthen bioplastics, useful for many industrial applications. The study's objective was to investigate the effect of chemical treatment on the structural aspect, and thermal properties of lemongrass fiber as biofiller for bioplastic starch. Lemongrass fibers were treated with an alkaline solution containing 5 % sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with molecular weight of 40.00 g/mol. The untreated and treated lemongrass bioplastic's structural properties, thermal properties, and mechanical properties have been analysed. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images showed that lemongrass fibers treated with NaOH have a rougher surface, attributed to the removal of surface impurities and waxy substances that cover the fibers. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated that the treatment with NaOH removed hemicelluloses and lignin as demonstrated by an absence of absorption bands at 2849.45 cm1 and the lack of absorption strength at bands 1245.73 cm1. TGA and DSC result showed that the treated lemongrass had excellent thermal stability at lower temperature and higher residue level due to the elimination of hemicellulose and lignin. The use of lemongrass fiber reinforcement in bioplastics enhanced the bioplastics' thermal properties significantly. Bioplastic reinforced with alkaline modified fibers showed a more remarkable improvement in thermal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to climate and other factors, including oxidation and thermal properties, Jatropha Biodiesel and Waste Plastic Oil degrade in quality during long-term storage. The Oxidation Stability of Diesel, Waste plastic Oil and Jatropha Biodiesel and its mixes, the gaseous phase change characteristics are typically analysed without examining the liquid phase. It's possible that degradation may produce non - soluble particles in the liquid phase, based on the storing or heat circumstances. To evaluate a thermal stability, a thermal analysis methods TG and DTA were applied. The results show that, TG and DTA thermogram JB20WPF10D65HX5 shows slight decrease in TG % upto 130 °C from 100 to 90% after that sudden decrease in temperature range 130 °C to 300 °C from 90 to 2% and Peak overlap observed at 130 °C, which is similar to Petroleum –derived diesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioplastics are plastics that microorganisms can degrade from compounds in plants such as starch, cellulose, and lignin. The study determines "Potential of Starch Substrate from Waste as a substrate for Bioplastic Production by Microbe". Qualitative determination of bioplastic accumulation was carried out by Sudan black painting. Painting was carried out on bacterial colonies in minimally solid media at a temperature 30°C in 48 hours. Colonies bacterial that grew then dissolved in ethanol and grown in media liquid minimally, a source of starch carbon from the waste. Use a shaker speed in 125 rpm and temperature of 30 °C for 72 hours. Cells bacterial were extracted by centrifugation for 20 minutes at 3000 rpm. Determined content of the bioplastic was using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at wavelength of 235 nm with concentrated H2SO4 as solvent. The research conducted by screening indigenous bacteria for bioplastic production showed that from 24 bacterial isolates, 13 isolates produced bioplastic using peel starch cassava, 5 isolates produced bioplastic using cassava rice-washed, and there were no bacterial isolates using peel starch banana. The results of the screening of 13 isolates showed that the bacterial isolate with code S110-5A1 had an absorbance value of 3.6989, and the results of the screening of 5 isolates showed that the bacterial isolate with the code S110-3A2 had an absorbance value of 1.5654, indicated which the potential producer of bioplastics good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional plastic which is difficult to decompose that's very serious environmental problem currently. For that reason, this study will discuss the manufacture of bioplastics from corn starch and nanofibers cellulose from oil palm mesocarp fiber and glycerol as plasticizer that friendly environment. Nanofiber cellulose (NFC) was added to corn starch matrix bioplastic with concentration of 1,2,3,4,5% (w/w) and glycerol as a plasticizer with concentration of 0,10,20,30,40%. The effect of adding NFC and glycerol towards the mechanical properties of bioplastic with tensile strength, elongation at break using a universal testing machine (UTM) and water uptake analysis. The test results showed that the best tensile strength value is obtained with the addition of 3% NFC and 30% glycerol at value is 18.52 MPa. The highest elongation at break was obtained at 14.524% with the addition of 4% NFC and 40% glycerol. The highest water absorption ability was added at 83.5% with 2% NFC and 30% glycerol. Mechanical properties of various analyzes have different results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying antibacterial onto the surface of bioplastic has become an interesting method. Here, an inhibitory and easy to use silver nanowires (AgNWs) as antibacterial agent was fabricated. Cassava starch-based (CS) bioplastics has been prepared by simple casting method, then continuous coating with various concentration of AgNWs. UV Visible were used to characterize the structure of AgNWs. Physical properties, water vapor transmission rates (WVTR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and antibacterial activity was examined using using Escherichia coli and Salmonella thypi. The results show that incorporated AgNWs could decrease the WVTR of the bioplastics through network structure of AgNWs on the surface of bioplastics. These bioplastics also exhibited antibacterial properties in present of AgNWs with minimum concentration 0.4 wt%. E. coli was found to be the sensitive bacterial to the AgNWs, it was observed from the inhibitory zones. The results may expand its future application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]