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GROUP 4-PT1

Plastic is primarily made from non-renewable materials and poses significant environmental challenges, with an estimated 50 to 70 trillion plastic waste projected by 2023. Bioplastics, derived from materials like eggshells and banana peels, offer biodegradable alternatives that can reduce pollution and reliance on petroleum-based plastics. Studies indicate that these bioplastics can effectively decompose in the environment and possess useful properties such as tensile strength and water resistance.

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6 views

GROUP 4-PT1

Plastic is primarily made from non-renewable materials and poses significant environmental challenges, with an estimated 50 to 70 trillion plastic waste projected by 2023. Bioplastics, derived from materials like eggshells and banana peels, offer biodegradable alternatives that can reduce pollution and reliance on petroleum-based plastics. Studies indicate that these bioplastics can effectively decompose in the environment and possess useful properties such as tensile strength and water resistance.

Uploaded by

aribanella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Plastic is a synthetic or part synthetic organic compound.

It is lightweight, strong, and

affordable. About 99% of plastics are made from non-renewable materials like coal,

petroleum, and natural gas. Bioplastics are a topic of interest as an alternative to oil-

based plastic bags because they are biodegradable, bio-based, or both. Their capacity

to break down in water is due to bacterial activity (Censi et al., 2022). The rate and

extent of degradation depend on factors like chemical composition, molecular structure,

and functional groups, along with the environment where they are placed.

Hughes (2022) stated that the estimated consumption of plastic bags worldwide is 5

trillion, and by 2023, it is projected that there will be a staggering amount of 50 to 70

trillion plastic waste. The decomposition of plastic can take anywhere from 20 to 500

years depending on environmental factors and its composition.

According to Vonnie (2022) on the study “ Development and Characterization of the

Biodegradable Film Derived from Eggshell and Cornstarch,” eggshells are a valuable

source of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) which makes up 95% of their mass. Additionally,

the organic materials, such as sulfated polysaccharides, collagen, and other proteins,

account for the other 5%. CaCO3 can be used to remove various metal ions, such as

manganese, cadmium, lead, zinc, nickel, and chromium. It is also known for its excellent

morphology, porosity, and ability to remove more than 90% of metal ions when the pH,

contact time, agitation speed, and dosage are optimized. Therefore, CaCO3 is

considered a valuable material for use in bioplastics.


A study conducted in 2022, "Analysis of Food Storage Stability of Biodegradable

Containers Made of Pork Skin Gelatin Polymer with Walnut Shell Powder", found that

manufacturing biodegradable containers using gelatin, glycerol, eggshells, and walnut

shells could have positive environmental impact by reducing pollution. Additionally, these

containers can help save money compared to commercially used plastic packaging by

safely storing food. They also have the advantage of being biodegradable.

According to a study conducted in 2022 by the International Journal of Creative

Research Thoughts (IJCRT), the use of banana peels (Musa sapientum) to create

biodegradable plastic showed promising results. By measuring the weight of the

samples before and after decomposition, it was found that they degraded in the

environment without creating any pollution. Additionally, according to a separate study

published in the International Journal of Scientific Research & Engineering Trends,

testing the tensile strength of the sample over different hydrolysis times showed an

increase in strength before decreasing at a certain point. Based on this, the ideal

hydrolysis time for the sample was found to be 15 minutes. As a result, the bioplastic

made from banana peels was found to have sufficient tensile strength to support a

weight of up to 2 kg, making it suitable for use as a carrying bag or packaging material.

This versatility in bioplastics could help reduce the dependence on petroleum-based

plastics in industries.
In order to test a bioplastic, common methods used are tensile strength test,

biodegradability test, and water resistance test. According to the study “Bioplastic from

Cassava peel and eggshell waste” on 2022, water resistance refers to the ability of a

material to resist the absorption of water, which can be determined by measuring the

weight addition of the polymer after exposure to water. Tensile strength is the ability of a

material to withstand maximum tension before breaking, which can be tested by

applying a specific force on one axis until failure occurs. Biodegradability is the ability of

bioplastics to be degraded in soil, which is tested by burying the plastic in soil and

measuring the time it takes for it to decompose completely. This process is accelerated

by sunlight and temperature changes in the soil, resulting in the breakdown of the

plastic into carbon dioxide, water, and organic matter, which are harmless to the

environment.

REFERENCES:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9144320/

https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution#how-does-plastic-impact-wildlife-and-human-

health

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/bioplastics
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/

348806219_Production_of_Bioplastics_from_Banana_Peels

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