THE EFFECT OF SYNTHESIS OF BIOPLASTIC OF CASSAVA STARCH
1.1 INTRODUCTION
One of the most current concern with the environment is the accumulated waste of non-degradable plastics. It create a great expectation for more ecological and economically viable alternative to minimise the environmental impact. Several materials from agricultural resources have been used to produce renewable, biodegradable and even more edible packaging. Cassava flour for example is one of the most commonly used biopolymers as food packaging material because it is non-toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible, low cost, renewable and abundantly available in nature. The major component of cassava flour is starch but it may content small amount of lipid, protein, fiber and ash. The starch plays important role in bioplastic forming. Today starch based bioplastics dominates 66% of the global bioplastic market. Starch based bioplastic is made by gelatinizing starch.
Cassava is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root which is a major source of Carbohydrates. Starch is mainly used as food but also readily converted chemically, physically and biologically into many useful products. Starch is used to produce many products such as food, paper, textiles, adhesives, beverages, confectionery, pharmaceuticals and building materials. Casava starch has many remarkable characteristics, including high paste viscosity, high paste clarity and high freeze – thaw stability, which are advantages to many industries.
Bioplastics are plastics which all carbon is derived from renewable resources. They may or may not be biodegradable. Bioplastics contain both renewable and fossilfuel- based carbon.
Bioplastics are plastic that decomposes naturally in the environment. This is achieved when microorganisms in the environment metabolize and break down the structure of biodegradable plastic.
Biodegradable plastics are less harmful to the environment than traditional or conventional plastics. Bioplastics are made from natural materials such as Corn starch and Casava starch.
1.2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM.
Parkaging plays a significant part in recent years as over 67 million tonnes of packaging waste resulting in environmental concerns. This provokes many different processes, for example, the using of additives such as filters, colourants and plasticizers to produce polymers as packaging applications. (Song J. H., Murphy R. J., Narayan R., Davies G. B. H. 2009. Biodegradable and Compostable alternativs to Conventional plastics. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 364. 2127 – 2139.)
