SCIENCE FAIR REPORT

BIOPLASTIC
Members:
Amy Gabriela Granillo Caraccioli
Mara Fernanda Lpez Howard
Keyla Michel Perdomo Carrillo
Henry Alexander Murillo Gmez

Group#12
Teacher:
Mrs. Linda Garca

Objectives
Create an efficient bioplastic that can replace the common
plastic made from petroleum due to the great impact it have
made on the environment.

Introduction
We became interested in bioplastic because we read about
petroleum and the dangerous wastes the normal plastic
produces. We wanted to create a project that can help to
reduce those amounts of wastes, by producing a plastic made
of renewable sources and would be able to limit the impact we
re having on the environment.
Fossil fuel plastics are derived from petroleum. Some
bioplastics are designed to biodegrade.
Biodegradable polymers or bioplastics are a form of plastics
derived from renewable biomass sources, like cornstarch.
Worldwide, we produce about 100 million tons of petroleum
per year. To make these plastics we use about 7 million oil per
day.

Hypothesis
We believe that we can create a bioplastic of low cost and
same quality as petroleum plastic.

Materials

Corn Starch
Vinegar
Glycerin
Water
Metal Pan
Heater
Measuring Cups
Spatula

Procedure
1. Measure cup of corn starch, 4 tablespoon
of water (60ml), 1 teaspoon of glycerin, 1
teaspoon of vinegar and add everything to the
pan.
2. Turn the heat on to the medium and began
stirring, keep heating and stirring until the
mixture turns from cloudy white to clear.
3. Watch how the starch makes a transformation
from liquid to a goopy like gel.
4. Now turn the heat up a little bit and keep
stirring rapidly until it is completely clear.
5. Quickly pour your plastic onto the cooling
sheet.
6. Let it dry.

Research
Bioplastics, also known as organic plastics or
biodegradable polymers, are a form of plastics derived
from renewable biomass sources, like vegetable oil, or
corn starch, rather than conventional plastics all have
one common flaw and is that they all are made using
petroleum based in plastics. Some, but not all,
bioplastics are designed to biodegrade. Some common
applications of bioplastics are packaging materials,
dining utensils, food packaging, and insulation.
Bioplastics are plastics derived from
renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats
and oils, corn
starch, pea starch or microbiota. Bioplastic can be
made from agricultural byproducts and also from used
plastic bottles and other containers using
microorganisms. Common plastics, such as fossil-fuel
plastics, are derived from petroleum. Production of
such plastics tends to require more fossil fuels and to
produce more greenhouse gasesthan the production
of bioplastics. Some, but not all, bioplastics are
designed to biodegrade. Biodegradable bioplastics can
break down in either anaerobic or aerobic
environments, depending on how they are
manufactured. Bioplastics can be composed

of starches, cellulose, biopolymers, and a variety of

other materials.

Pictures, graphs, & Charts

Amount of Pollution, Amylose and Amylopectin in Bioplastic

Pollution

Amylose

Amylopectin

Conclusions
Bioplastic is a reality and is a practical truth. Bioplastic is an
important and exciting new field in biotechnology which
promises to help save the environment as well as slow the
depletion of non-renewable resources. Some bioplastic
materials facilitate the improvement of soil through their
interaction with living matter. They also facilitate the
reduction greenhouse gas emission.