PRODUCTION OF STARCH BASED OXO-BIODEGRADABLE

PLASTIC FROM POTATO PEELINGS

An Investigatory Project Presented to the

Science and Technology Department

Notre Dame of Dadiangas University

Integrated Basic Education Department

Lagao, General Santos

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements in Science 7

Submitted by:

DORONILA, James Ryan L.

LAMANERO, Tyler James M.

OBRA, Florenz Luigie M.

CHAPTER I - The problem

I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGS

Introduction 2

Statement of the Problem 3

Scope and Delimitation 4

Significance of the Study 4

Definition of Terms 5

II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

III METHODOLOGY

Research Design 9

Preparation of Materials 10

General Procedure 10

Data Gathering Technique 11

Statistical Tools 11

1
 Chapter I

The Problem and Its Settings

Introduction

Since 1950, the annual global production of conventional plastic has

increased nearly 200 times (Ritchie H. and Roser M., 2022). It is unknowingly

consumed by most if not all fauna on the planet (Parker L., 2019). Because

conventional plastic has long decomposition rates ranging from 450 years to

1000 years (Le Guern C., 2019), By 2050, the amount of conventional plastic in

the ocean alone will be so high to the point it will outweigh fish (World Economic

Forum, The MacArthur Foundation, 2016).

In 2021, the Philippines generated 2.7 million tons of conventional plastic

garbage (World Bank, 2021), resulting in a massive waste epidemic that

threatens the environment and Filipinos' health. An increasing volume of solid

waste, insufficient law enforcement, a scarcity of sanitary landfills, and incorrect

disposal are all concerns with solid waste management in the country (Coracero E.

E., et al. 2021). High dependence on conventional plastics like multilayer sachets

and pouches has led the Philippines to become a sachet economy, By some

estimates, the Philippines consumes a staggering 163 million pieces of sachets

every day(Asia News Monitor, 2021).

2
 Waste pollution is threatening Sarangani Bay, particularly at the Public

Market, due to poor management. Improper disposal of conventional plastic on

seascapes is noted in the rich ecosystem: signs of microplastic particles have

been found in fish, mollusks, and beach sediments along the 215,950-hectare

shoreline. Professor Julius Mingoc, a marine biologist, demonstrates the

magnitude of garbage floating in the center of Sarangani Bay in this screengrab

from a multimedia presentation. Since 2018, kilometer-long swaths of garbage,

including conventional plastics, have accumulated in numerous areas of the bay.

Low-income households favor conventional plastics because things packaged in

them, such as toothpaste and coffee in sachets, are inexpensive. A sachet of

shampoo costs five pesos at the friendly sari-sari (mom-and-pop) store

(Sarmiento, 2021).

This study aims to see whether it is possible to use potato peelings for

starch-based oxo-biodegradable plastics and whether there is a difference in the

quality of the starch quantities. Tensile strength will be done to test the durability

of the products.

Statement of the Problem

The study being conducted seeks to answer these questions:

1. Can you use starch from potato peelings in starch-based oxo-

biodegradable plastic?

2. Is there a significance of tensile strength between non-oxo-biodegradable

plastic or conventional plastic, 50% starch oxo-biodegradable plastic, and

3
 100% starch oxo-biodegradable plastic?

Hypothesis

You cannot make starch based oxo-biodegradable plastics from potato

peelings

Scope & Delimitation

This research study. “Production of Starch based oxo-biodegradable plastic from

Potato peelings(Solanum Tuberosum), will not utilize a universal testing device

due to unavailability of the device. This study will be conducted at the NDDU

science laboratory and, as such, will only use materials and equipment available

at the laboratory. The subject of this study is the production of starch-based Oxo-

Biodegradable plastic made from Potato Peelings. Conventional plastics will only

be used for comparison. This research is limited only to determining the tensile

strength of the plastic. Other properties of plastic such as hardness and

brittleness will not be tested due to time and resource constraints.

Significance of the Study

In This study, the production of starched-based oxo-biodegradable plastic

from Solanum tuberosum (Potato) peelings seeks to benefit the following:

Country. This study will help sustain the country’s resources by developing

safer and more eco-friendly plastic.

4
 Community. This study will help reduce conventional plastics found in homes

by replacing them with oxo-biodegradable plastics.

Academe. This study will inform students about the benefits of utilizing oxo-

biodegradable plastics more than conventional plastics. This will also gain their

knowledge of different alternatives and solutions.

Future Researchers. This study will help them come up with more gainful

discoveries to make a positive impact on the environment.

Definition of terms

Certain technical concepts may be difficult to comprehend. The researchers

have supplied definitions for those words for the reader's convenience.

Conventional plastic. A synthetic material made from a wide range of organic

polymers that can be molded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or

slightly elastic form. This will be compared with the oxo-biodegradable plastics

Oxo-biodegradable plastic. Conventional plastic with an additive to imitate

biodegradation. If possible, starch from potato peelings will be used as the

additive for the oxo-biodegradable plastic that the researchers will produce.

Starch. A soft, white, tasteless powder that is insoluble in cold water, alcohol, or

other solvents. The researchers will turn potato peelings into starch as an

additive for oxo-biodegradable plastic

Potato Peelings. It is the peeled skin of the underground stem of a potato plant.

The researchers will turn these into starch.

5
Durability Test. A performance testing technique is used to determine the

characteristics of a system under various load conditions over time. It will be

used to measure the quality of the oxo-biodegradable plastic.

Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

Potato

The Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a tall South American nightshade

shrub extensively grown for its tasty starchy tuber (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Its

peel, although not as used, contains high amounts of starch (Javed A., Ahmad

A., 2019). In 2017 alone, worldwide production of potatoes reached 388 million

tonnes (Satognon F., et. al., 2021). Its high starch content makes it popular as an

ingredient for alternatives to conventional plastic, notably bioplastic (Rizwana B.

K., et. al., 2020). The potato is also relatively easy to grow (Kieu N. P., et. al.,

2021).

Starch

Starch is a white, granular, organic chemical that is produced by all

green plants(Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia., 2021). Pure starch cannot

6
be dissolved in cold water or alcohol, It is non-toxic, bioabsorbable and semi-

permeable to carbon dioxide(M. K. Marichelvam., Mohammad Jawaid.,

Mohammad Asim., 2019). Starch contains two main components: amylose and

amylopectin(Zhang et al., 2019). Starch-based bioplastics are a popular material

for bioplastic production(Anugrahwidya, R., Armynah, B. & Tahir, D., 2021), up-

and-coming alternative due to the abundance, reproducibility, sustainability, and

biodegradability of starch (Arifa Shafqat, Arifa Tahir., et. al., 2020) . The ratio of

amylose to amylopectin influences the mechanical properties of starch-based

bioplastics, mainly because amylose influences the crystallinity and degree of

entanglement (Ekpenyong, Maurice., 2019).

Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic

Oxo-biodegradable plastic is designed to be used, re-used, and recycled in

the same way as regular plastic during its useful life, and can even be created

from recycled materials. If it does not escape into the open world, it does not rule

out more circular and helpful end-of-life choices (Michael S., 2021) . It is made of

petroleum-based plastics with additives to encourage degradation (Abdelmoez

W., et. al., 2021) unlike bioplastics, which are plastics entirely made of biomass

(Vert M., et. al., 2012). The additives found in these oxo-biodegradable plastics

often contain metal salts (Thomas N.L., et. al., 2015). Plastic bags made from

oxo-biodegradable polymers are among the biodegradable plastics that have

been produced. When oxo-biodegradable becomes waste and is exposed to

ultraviolet light (UV) or heat, the polymer chains in the plastic are broken, and

7
microbes easily destroy the resultant chemicals. However, the microbial

breakdown of oxo-biodegradable polymers is barely investigated (Da Luz J.M.,

et. al.,2013).

Chapter III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter includes the research design, materials, procedure, and

methodology used in this study.

Research Design

The research design presents the methods to be used during the conduct of

the study. The Independent variable is the Solanum Tuberosum (Potato). The

dependent variable is Tensile strength. Two types of plastic will be tested-

Conventional Plastic and oxo-biodegradable plastic made from Solanum

Tuberosum (Potato) peelings. There will be 3 replicates in each type of plastic.

The tensile strength is to be measured in terms of MPa.

8
Figure no. 1: Research Design

9
Preparation of Materials

The researchers will use the following materials: spring scale, graduated

cylinder, wire gauge, beaker, bunsen burner, gauze mat, thermometer, and tripod

which will all be obtained from the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University

Laboratory. The glassware will be washed and air-dried.

General Procedure

Tie a short length of your test material in a secure knot around the hook of

the spring scale. Secure the top of the spring scale to something steady, like a

table or wall. Pull on the test material until it breaks. Keep an eye on the spring

scale reading. Record the force amount of weight before it breaks.

In making Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic, whisk the peelings then add water.

Heat the whisk peelings on a pot at medium heat for 5 minutes. Turn it off when

the mixture thickens then put the mixture in a pitcher with water. After, filter the

mixture and remove the excess water. Weigh 40g of the mix, 20 mL vinegar, 1

tsp glycerine, and one tsp of cornstarch. This is the additive. The additive will be

mixed with plastic pellets and will be heated in hot water placed in a beaker. The

beaker will be placed on top a gauze mat supported by a tripod over a bunsen

burner which will be heated at 60 c for 2-3 minutes. Measuring of the

temperature will be done by putting a thermometer on the beaker.

10
Data Gathering Technique

The researchers will observe and measure the tensile strength by looking at

the amount of weight required to break the plastic using the spring scale. The

different variables, such as 50% and 100% starch oxo-biodegradable plastic, will

be compared using the results of the tensile strength test. The more weight

required to break the plastic, the better.

Statistical tools

After the data is gathered, the researchers will use One-Way ANOVA to

test whether there are any significant differences between the results.

11
 REFERENCE

Abdelmoez W. (2021). Bio- and oxo-degradable plastics: Insights on facts

and challenges. Research Gate

Anugrahwidya, R. et. al., (2021). Bioplastics Starch-Based with Additional Fiber

and Nanoparticle: Characteristics and Biodegradation Performance: A Review.

Journal of Polymers and the Environment

Asia News Monitor (2021). Philippines: Market Study for Philippines: Plastics

Circularity Opportunities and Barriers. ProQuest

Bong S. (2021). Special Report: Microplastics from plastic trash choke Sarangani

Bay. MindaNews

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2021). starch. Encyclopedia Britannica.

Coracero, E. E., et al (2021). A Long-Standing Problem: A Review on the Solid

Waste Management in the Philippines.

Ekpenyong, Maurice (2019). Which starch gives successful Bio-degradable

plastics? give suggestions regarding best reagents and proportions for

biodegradable starch?. ResearchGate

Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues

Da Luz J.M., et. al. (2013). Degradation of Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic by

Pleurotus ostreatus. National Library of Medicine

Javed A., Ahmad A. (2019). Potato peel waste - its nutraceutical, industrial and

12
biotechnological applications. AIMS Press

Kieu N. P., et. al. (2021). Potato as a Model for Field Trials with Modified Gene

Functions in Research and Translational Experiments. Springer Link

Le Guern C. (2019). When the Mermaids Cry: The Great Plastic Tide. Coastal

Care

Merriam-Webster (n.d.). Potato. Merriam-Webster

Michael S. (2021). OXO-Biodegradable Plastic. Bioplastic News

M.K Marichelvam ., et. al. (2019). Corn and Rice Starch-Based Bio-Plastics as

Alternative Packaging Materials. Fibers

Parker L. (2019). The World’s Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained. National

Geographic

Ritchie H., Roser M. (2022). Plastic Pollution. Our World In Data

Rizwana B. K., et. al. (2020). Bioplastic Synthesis Using Banana Peels And

Potato Starch And Characterization. International Journal of Scientific &

Technology Research

Satognon F., et. al. (2021). Performance of apical rooted cuttings of potato

grown in Mollic Andosols under different nitrogen fertilization and irrigation

regimes. Science Direct

Shafqat et. al.,(2020). A review on environmental significance carbon foot prints

of starch based bio-plastic: A substitute of conventional plastics. ScienceDirect

Thomas N.L., et. al. (2015). Oxo Degradable plastics: degradation,

environmental impact and recycling. ICE Virtual Library

Vert M., et. al. (2012). Terminology for biorelated polymers and applications

13
(IUPAC Recommendations 2012)*. Pure and Applied Chemistry

World Bank (2021). Market Study for Philippines: Plastics Circularity

Opportunities and Barriers. World Bank

World Economic Forum, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2016). The New

Plastics Economy: Rethinking The Future of Plastics. The Ellen MacArthur

Foundation

Zhang et. al., (2019). Starch Components, Starch Properties and Appearance

Quality of Opaque Kernels from Rice Mutants. Molecules

14