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A Basic Characterisation Study of Bioplastics via Gelatinization of Corn Starch
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Researchers synthesized bioplastics from corn starch via gelatinization at varying starch-to-glycerol ratios, finding that all formulations produced polyester-like functional groups by FTIR and that glycerol content controlled mechanical flexibility, with higher glycerol ratios yielding more pliable materials.
Plastic waste is the third-largest waste source in the world, so it raises the world’s human health and environmental concerns. Replacing conventional petroleum plastic with bioplastic is an alternative way to minimise plastic wastes from human life and bioplastic is more environmentally friendly. Therefore, this research study aims to synthesise bioplastic from corn starch via gelatinization and study its characteristics. Different from other studies, in this study, new formulations of bioplastics with different ratios of corn starch to glycerol samples that are 1:0.5, 1:1, 2:1, and 2:2, namely Sets A, B, C, and D, respectively, were studied and compared. From the Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy analysis, the results show that all produced corn starch-based bioplastic samples had the four major plastic’s functional groups which indicated that they were categorized as polyester. Meanwhile, via thermal property analysis, all bioplastic samples could be thermally decomposed from 34 °C to 504 °C where their weight was reduced from 5 mg to 1 mg. Among the four bioplastic samples (Sets A to D) with different ratios of corn starch to glycerol, it was found that a ratio of corn starch and glycerol that was 1:0.5 (Set A) had more biodegradable characteristics and it had the lowest water holding capacity. From the results, Set A could only hold around 4.27 % of the water that could avoid interaction of water with the contents that were wrapped with. Besides, from the results, Set A could degrade better in soils, and dissolve more in ethanol, acetone, and oils when compared to other samples. Since the bioplastic can degrade naturally by the ethanol produced from bacteria in the soils under anaerobic reactions, thus Set A has the potential application to be used as a fertiliser coating to minimise the fertiliser release rate in regions under heavy rainfall.
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This study describes how bioplastics can be made from corn and potato starch as a biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics, which currently see only 9% of global production recycled. The resulting starch-based bioplastic showed improved flexibility compared to earlier versions, suggesting it could substitute for conventional plastics in some applications and help reduce long-term plastic pollution.
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Researchers developed a novel method to synthesize biodegradable plastic films from cornmeal using microwave polymerization, combining cornmeal, glycerin, and vinegar to produce a biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics with measured rheological and mechanical properties.
Degradation of Bioplastics Under the Influence of Several Environmental Conditions
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This study tested how different environmental conditions affect the degradation of bioplastics made from starch and glycerol. While bioplastics are marketed as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, this research examines whether they actually break down effectively in real-world conditions rather than only in controlled composting settings.
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