We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Biodegradable Starch-Based Bioplastic from Chickpea: A Green Alternative to Conventional Plastics
Summary
Scientists created a new type of plastic made from chickpea starch instead of petroleum, designed to break down naturally rather than sticking around in the environment for centuries like regular plastic. This matters because conventional plastics shed microplastics that end up in our food, water, and even our bodies—so biodegradable alternatives like this could help reduce that long-term exposure while still being sturdy enough to actually use. That said, this is early-stage lab research, so more testing is needed before chickpea-based plastic shows up in everyday products.
Currently, plastic pollution is a growing global issue due to its non-biodegradability, increasing demand for eco-friendly alternatives such as bioplastics. This study explores the development of bioplastic films from chickpea starch using a three-step molding process. In the first step, starch is extracted from chickpeas. The second step involves hydrolysis and plasticization of starch with glycerol in different ratios. In the final step, the modified starch is blended with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in varying ratios to produce the bioplastic films. The optimal formulation, CPS 1:2:2, exhibited strong performance (3.63 MPa TS, 623% EA, and 70.1° WCA). The bioplastic showed good physicochemical characteristics, confirmed by FTIR analyses, mechanical performance, and water contact angle, and demonstrated biodegradability, as confirmed by FTIR and SEM morphology.