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The Feasibility of Banana (Musa Paradisiaca) Peel’s Starch as a Raw Material of Biodegradable

Plastic

As the world need plastics for our daily purposes, million tonnes of plastics were produced worldwide.

Plastic is a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers such as polyethylene, PVC,

nylon, etc., that can be molded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form.

Plastic is selected as the best packaging due to its versatility, low cost and permeability. Plastic materials

are unable to be degraded by present natural microorganisms upon their disposal to the environment.

As a result, these non-biodegradable plastics remain in the environment for a long time and cause an

increase in solid waste production. (Emuliy J. North, 2013)

Even though non-biodegradable plastics are not good in our environment we also have

biodegradable plastics which are eco-friendly. Biodegradable plastic decomposes naturally in the

environment. This is achieved when microorganisms in the environment metabolize and break

down the structure of biodegradable plastic. The end result is one which is less harmful to the

environment the traditional plastics. (Rod Alire et al, 2010)

Starch is a carbohydrate extracted from agricultural raw materials which is widely present

in literally thousands of everyday food and non-food applications. It is the most important

carbohydrate in the human diet. Because it is renewable and biodegradable it is also a perfect

raw material as a substitute for fossil-fuel components in numerous chemical applications such

as plastics, detergents, glues etc. Starch is a form of complex carbohydrate that is found in a

variety of foods of all different colors. Foods that are high in starch include breads, grains,

cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, peas, corn and beans in other words, grains, legumes and some

vegetables. (Poppy Puspitasari et al, 2011)

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Banana peels is one of the most common waste forms of starch. It consists high sources

of starch which is about 18.5%. A person eats an average of 100 bananas a year. Over a typical

lifespan, that means person eat 8,000 bananas. The average banana is about 8 inches long, so

that’s basically a length of bananas that is almost exactly 1 mile long. As banana peels ripen, the

glucose level increases. The disposal of these large amounts of wet organic waste can eventually

harm the environment and lead to health problems such as respiratory disorders. (Noor Fatima et

al. 2009)

The study aimed to turn starches from Banana peels as an alternative plastic material.

The purpose of this study was to convert the starches from banana peels into a biodegradable

plastic.

Background of the study

Bio-based plastics made from natural sources break down more easily than conventional

plastic, without producing toxic byproducts. But for this to happen they have to be composted,

not buried in landfills. (Danny Ducat, August 2018).

Bio-based plastics can help to reduce the dependency on limited fossil resources, which

are expected to become significantly more expensive in the coming decades. Bio-based plastics

also have the unique potential to reduce GHG emissions or even be carbon neutral. Another

major benefit of bio-based plastic is their potential to ’close the cycle’ and increase resources

efficiency. (European-bioplastic.org, March 2016).

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Starch is one of the most common and easily obtained natural polymers, making it

attractive as a potential bio based alternative to synthetic polymers. The plasticisation of starch is

complex due to the extensive hydrogen bonding between chains. Starch based plastics can be

formed by the same processes as current commercial plastics and shown significantly affect the

polymer’s structure and also has effect to the properties of the resulting plastic. These plastics are

environmentally compatible, recyclable, biodegradable and compostable. (Tariq Ziyad Abolibda,

May 2015).

Every year, around 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. These plastic bags are

synthetic, which tend to accumulate in the environment and cause serious litter problem. Being

synthetic, plastic do not decompose easily, causing them to be major land water pollutantas. This

study focus on the feasibility using Nata de coco, jelly-like fermented coconut water by

Acetobacter xylinus. A microbial cellulose, in the production of biodegradable plastic sheet. This

will eventually help in lessening or removing synthetic waste. (Matthew Ap et al. 2010)

Biodegradable and renewable resources are needed to make bioplastics. Starch from

agriculture such as corn, potatoes, etc. can be used as a building block. A mixture of starch and

additional substances becomes plastic in a heating-coolig process. Recycling only does not solve

the problem as still s huge amount of plastic waste ends up in landfill and oceans. (Heru

Suryanto et al. 2011)

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Statement of the Problem

The study aimed to turn starches from Banana peels as an alternative plastic material. It

sought to determine its feasibility to be used as an alternative for the plastic and seek to answer

this question:

1. What is the quality of banana peel biodegradable plastic in terns of durability,

odor and color?

2. What is the effect of the different concentration of starch from banana peel to the

quality of the biodegradable plastic?

Hypothesis

Alternative: The banana peel’s starch is feasible to be an alternative raw material

in making biodegradable plastic.

Null: The banana peel’s starch is not feasible to be an alternative raw material in

making biodegradable plastic.

Significance of the Study

This research aims to study and test the feasibility of using Banana Peel as an alternative

source of plastic material. Plastic is the common pollutants and they cannot decompose easily.

This eventually helps in lessening or removing synthetic waste. Banana Peel can be used as an

alternative material for making plastic just like real plastic instead of throwing garbage and litter.

In Philippines, many of the lakes and rivers, if not all are polluted with trash. This causes
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clogging and in turn floods. The biodegradable plastic out of banana peel can be useful to:

Family to be able to carry their goods using a presentable biodegradable plastic. Factories to help

them to aim producing biodegradable plastic and give them new idea about bioplastics.

Environment to lessen the air pollution, water pollution and litter in our environment by the use

of collecting the waste material specifically the banana peels. To the future researchers. as an

idea in making a biodegradable plastic and they can use it as a guide if they want to make

biodegradable plastic using another raw material.

Scope and Limitations

The study aimed to know the feasibility of using banana peel as raw material in

producing biodegradable plastic. Banana peels are containing starch which was needed to make

plastics. The researchers used three different amount of concentration of banana peel to create

bioplastics with the size like the ordinary plastic and compared the outcomes of the strength of

the different amount of concentration. The researchers focused only on these different

characteristics of the biodegradable plastics made of banana peels: the strength, color, odor, and

the appearance of the final product with different amount of concentration of banana peels tested

by using the research instrument. The researcher used only the ripened banana peels of Lakatan

and considered as waste and not the unripened banana peels. Banana peels collected at homes of

the researchers. The researchers focused only on the effectiveness of Lakatan variety of banana

peel as the raw material in producing biodegradable plastic in different concentration ton see in

what concentration the biodegradable plastic will show the best outcome.
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Materials and Methods

Research Design

The researchers of this study will make a three biodegradable plastic which is made of

banana peels’ starch in different amount of concentration of starch given by the researchers The

biodegradable plastic made out of banana peels’ starch will undergo on a process in which the

researchers will convert the banana peels’ starch into fluid paste using hand blender and will use

different kinds of chemicals that will be mixed in the fluid paste to form a biodegradable plastic.

After that, the researchers will produce three biodegradable plastics with different amount of

concentration and will undergo on a testing process, in which the researchers will test the

strength of the biodegradable plastic.

Research Instrument

The study aims to determine the feasibility of banana peels’ starch as a raw material in

making biodegradable plastic.

Amount of concentration
Quality
25ml 30ml 35ml

Strength
(N/m2)

Table 1: The strength of biodegradable plastic in different amount of concentration of banana

peels’ starch
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Table 1 is showing the strength of biodegradable plastic made out of banana peels’ starch

in different amount of concentration.

Amount of concentration
Quality
25ml 30ml 35ml

Color

Odor

Table 2: The odor and color of biodegradable plastic in different amount of concentration of

banana peels’ starch.

Table 2 is showing the odor and color of biodegradable plastic made out of banana peels’ starch

in different amount of concentration.

Flow Chart of Methodology

Heating the banana

peels with 800ml of
Data Gathering of RRL Collecting the banana
distilled water in a
and RRS peels
beaker using a Bunsen
burner

Putting the fluid paste

with chemicals in a
Production of the plastic
petri dish and put in the
oven at 130℃ for half
an hour.
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Figure 1. Flow Chart of Methodology

The Figure 1 shows the steps that the researchers will do to make biodegradable plastic.

At the start of the method, the researchers gathered data that will be used in their study. The

researchers will start to collect the banana peels of Lakatan (Musa Acuminata) variety of banana

within the vicinity from Brgy. Langgam to Brgy. Calendola. After collecting the banana peels

the researchers will prepare the banana peels for making the banana peels into fluid paste using

the blender. The resulting fluid paste of banana peels will be used by the researchers to produce

biodegradable plastic.

Risk and Safety

The researchers might experience different hazards while conducting the experiment.

Researchers might experience risks in doing the experiment. The researchers may experience

burn in using the burner for the experiment. The researchers may also experience risks in using

harmful chemicals needed for the experiment.

To ensure the safety of the researchers, the researchers will implement precautions such

as wearing the proper safety equipment during the process of experimentation. The researchers

used gloves and safety goggles. The researchers sought the help of teacher before conduction

various experiments.
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Results

Amount of concentration
Quality
25 ml 30ml 35ml

Strength It didn’t last even 1-2 It didn’t last even 1-2 It didn’t last even 1-2
(N/m2) seconds. seconds. seconds.

Table 1: The strength of biodegradable plastic in different amount of concentration of banana

peels’ starch.

Amount of concentration
Quality
25ml 30ml 35ml

It resulted into black color It resulted into black It resulted into black
Color after it was baked for 30 color after it was baked color after it was baked
mins. In a 130 degree fir 30 mins. In a 130 fir 30 mins. In a 130
Celsius oven. degree Celsius oven. degree Celsius oven.
Strong smell from the Strong smell from the Strong smell from the
Odor hydrochloric acid mixed hydrochloric acid mixed hydrochloric acid mixed
with the banana peels. with the banana peels. with the banana peels.
Table 2: The odor and color of biodegradable plastic in different amount of concentration of

banana peels’ starch.

The table shows the result of the test of the banana peel biodegradable plastic with

different amount of concentrations of starch, but due to the systematic errors, the result didn’t

last.

The amount of concentration of starch in banana peel biodegradable plastic didn’t affect

the color and odor of the plastic. The table shows the three different amount of concentration of

banana peels starch that used to make biodegradable plastic and resulting to the same strength,

odor and color.

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Discussions

The researchers used different kind of procedures to be able to make a biodegradable

plastic. The researchers used different kinds of chemicals which is included in the procedure that

can be the possible factor in making biodegradable plastic. The researchers was possibly used the

wrong chemical that leads the banana peel starch not turn into a biodegradable plastic. Although

the banana peel has starch and starch is one of the most commonly used in making

biodegradable plastic, the researchers did not completely get the pure starch of banana peel. The

banana peel particularly its starch, was proven to be cannot use as a raw material in making a

biodegradable plastic. It focused on determining the feasibility of using banana peels starch in

making biodegradable plastic. The researchers was not successful in proving its hypothesis and

came up to a null hypothesis.

Conclusions

Based on the result , the Banana peels starch did not formed into a biodegradable plastic.

The researchers used any kind of procedures used to make biodegradable plastic. The researchers

came up to null hypothesis that shows banana peels starch is not feasible to be an alternative raw

material in making biodegradable plastic.

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Recommendations

From the findings derived from the study, the researchers inferred that banana peels

starch as a raw material is not effective in making biodegradable plastic.

In relation to yielded conclusions and results of the study, the researchers came up with

the following recommendations to further expand the learning in making biodegradable plastic

using agricultural waste.

1. To the future generation of researchers of the study,

- They should try another agricultural material that is rich in starch.

- They should look the gap or more background of the study and the most effective

procedures in making biodegradable plastic.

- Be accurate in following procedures to be able to produce good quality of research

product.