Production and characterization of biodegradable plastics from water Yam peel starch and rubber seed oil

Abstract

Packaging waste forms a significant part of municipal solid waste and has caused increasing environmental concern. This research investigates the potential of producing bioplastics using the starch from water yam peels and epoxidized rubber seed oil. The starch and epoxidized rubber seed oil with additives were copolymerized to form the bioplastic. Analysis of the starch were: moisture content (10.08±0.42%), ash content (0.175±0.010%). amylase (26.93±0.01%) and amylopectin (73.07±0.10%). Physicochemical analysis of the epoxidized rubber seed oil were pH (6.50±0.01), specific gravity (0.97±0.24), viscosity (12.30±0.20 poise) acid value (22.62±0.01 mgKOH/g) and iodine value (158.51±0.03 mgl₂/g). The bioplastic was subsequently produced by copolymerization of the epoxidized rubber seed oil and water yam peels starch. The tensile strengths of both bioplastic and the control were 20.54N/mm² and 12.28N/mm² respectively. Also, the results showed that the bioplastic had a poor resistance in acidic and water media, good resistance in basic, and alcoholic media. The biodegradability test results showed that weight loss was more evident in loamy soil whereas no change was observed for the control.