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 Cassava starch.
1.2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM.
Packaging 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.)
1.3. OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The major objective is the Synthesis of biodegradable plastic of Cassava starch.
1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
~ What are biodegradable plastics?
~ What is significance of synthesis of biodegradable plastic?
~ Why is Cassava starch preferred for the synthesis of biodegradable plastic?
~ Why is bioplastics preferred to other plastics?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
Environmental, economic, and safety challenges have caused many scientists to invent biodegradable polymers
as a substitute for petrochemical based polymers. This biodegradable polymers or bioplastics indicate more ecofriendly environment than the conventional plastic which lead to environmental issue. (Reddy L. Reddy S.
Gupta A. 2013. Study of Bioplastics as green and sustainable alternative to plastic. IJETAE 3. 75-81.)
The persistent problem in the development of biodegradable plastics is the high cost of production which leads
to certain limitations. An alternative has been proposed by using agriculture waste. (Jain R. Tiwari A. 2015.
Biosynthesis of plant friendly bioplastics using renewable carbon source. J. Environ Health Sci. Eng. 13.)
Starch as biodegradable polymer becomes reasonable material for the production of bioplastic because of its low
cost. (Mose B. R., Marangas M. 2011. A review on starch based nanocomposites for bioplastic materials. J. Mat
Sci Eng 1. 239- 245)
Therefore, production of bioplastics is the breakdown innovation to solve the environmental issues by using
renewable and degradable natural resources in order to provide more costly effective bioplastics.
1.6. SCOPE OF STUDY
The research focus on the synthesis of biodegradable plastic using Cassava starch.
REFERENCES
1. Jain R., Tiwari A. 2015. Biosynthesis of plant friendly bioplastics using renewable carbon source. J. Environ.
Health Sci Eng 13.
2. Mose B. R, Marango S.M. 2011. A review on starch based nanocomposites for bioplastic materials. J.Mat Sci.
Eng 1. 239-245.
3. Reddy L. Reddy S. Gupta A. 2013. Study of bioplastics as green and sustainable alternative to plastic. IJEJAE
3 76-81.
4. Song J. H., Murphy R.J., Narayan R., Davies G. B. H. 2009. Biodegradable and compostable alternatives to
conventional plastics. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 364. 2127 – 2139.
