UNIVERSIDAD DE MANILA

659-A Cecilia Muñoz St, Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila

Cornstarch as a Bio-plastic

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A Science Investigatory Project Presented to

Mr. Ricardo V. Villanueva

Of Universidad de Manila

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Presented by

Abaya, Xydrick

Balajadia, Maria Jovilyn

Bausa, Ziara Mae

Borres, Mary Joy

Dayao, Joezare

STEM 12- B

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2018

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researcher would like to acknowledge the contributions of

more than a few people who helped in getting this study done. A warm

thanks to the parents of the researcher for their endless support and

guidance and to Mrs. Irma Llorera for lending the pot of soil that used

during the experiment.

It would not have been such an accomplishment if it weren’t for

the researchers who worked very hard for the triumph of the S.I.P. For

Jovilyn’s father who helped for making a bio-plastic. And for mother of

Merrielcky who provide the place for performing and making a bio-

plastic which made their work easier, more proper and effective. The

researchers would like to thank to their General Chemistry 1 professor,

Mr. Ricardo Villanueva for allowing them to research and find,

investigate and broaden their knowledge about the topic wherein they

learned a lot of new things and ides. Lastly, for God who has always

been there in times when they really needed him, for protecting and

guiding the researchers to the right path that led to their

accomplishment.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

I. Title page………………………………………………………………………………………. 1

II. Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………. 2

III. Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………. 3

IV. Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

V. Chapter I

 Background of the study………………………………………………………… 7

 Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………… 8

 Hypothesis……………………………………………………………...……………… 9

 Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………. 10

VI. Chapter II

 Review of Related Literature…………………………………………………. 11

VII. Chapter III

 Methodology…………………………………………………………………………… 16

VIII. Chapter IV

 Analysis of data……………………………………………………………………… 19

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IX. Chapter V

 Summary………………………………………………………………………………. 23

 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………… 23

 Recommendation………………………………………………………………….. 24

X. Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………. 25

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LIST OF FIGURES

PAGE

FIGURES

1. Flowchart: Process for making bio-plastic……………………………… 18

2. Experiment 1. Putting the Bio-plastic in the soil……………………. 19

3. Experiment 2. Putting the bio-plastic in the fresh water………. 20

4. Experiment 3. Putting hot water in the bio-plastic………………… 21

5. Experiment 4. Putting the bio-plastic in the fire……………………… 21

6. Procedures for making a bio-plastic………………………………………. 25

7. Experiments for testing its strength……………………………………… 26

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ABSTRACT

We're living in the world were plastic is a must, it has a large

used in everyday life. That's why there are so many places that flood

because of the plastic that blocking the waterway. So to lessen this kind

of problem the researcher make an eco-friendly plastic using starch. But

this kind of plastic is have some problems in its durability and strength.

The researcher being curious themselves if this kind of plastic is

really useful as a substitute to a recyclable plastic that people using now.

The researcher conduct an experiment to try its strength, durability and

flexibility.

They first try to put it in the soil to see if it will decomposed.

Then, they try putting it in a freshwater also for a week to test of it will

last long and can use for a days. Then, the researcher also put hot water

at the bio-plastic, it became soft after just a minute. And last the

researcher try to put it in the fire, when bio-plastic touch the fire it pops.

Bio-plastic is effective substitute for recyclable plastic because it will

help to avoid and decrease the flooding in many places and it’s not toxic

for community, but this kind of plastic still needs an improvement to use

it for long.

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

We live in a world where plastic is essential yet the plastic we

Produce slowly destroys our planet. Due to an increase in the population

and wrong handling of waste materials, the amount of waste especially

here in the Philippines is constantly increasing (Philippine solid waste,

2015).

Plastic become a big environmental issue. Nowadays, people are

more aware about the harmful effects it might brought to our

environment. Many of the plastic bottles that we use today are not

biodegradable. Plastics, made from non-renewable resources such as

petroleum products, are now very common and are being used almost

everywhere as such; in packing materials, in bottles, hcell phones,

plastic bags and more. They are being so extensively used because of

their durability, strength, malleability, low reactivity and cost efficiency

(Doty, 2005). Some types of plastic degrade faster than others, but

depending on the type of plastic, it may never break down. Much of it

goes to landfills, but it can also end up on the side of the road, in

waterways, and in different places in our environment (Azios, 2007).

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This is becoming a huge problem for our environment and our wildlife,

as it is very detrimental and can destroy habitats for us and to other

organisms. We could prevent them by recycling plastic or reusing it is

an option. Another alternative is reducing our plastic consumption where

it can minimize the impact of waste that litter on earth. The amount of

plastic we are using is not only harmful to the environment but also we

are killing a number of species as well (MOE; L’Express, 2006).

In the other hand, using biodegradable plastics could cut down

the amount of space taken up in landfills and reduce the impact that

litter on our environment. Also, majority of bio-plastic is made from

renewable resources, such as corn or other plant material. One of the

reason why bio-plastic is a better option for the environment and, in

turn, to everyone in the world.

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study will be geared with the development of bio-plastic using

cornstarch. It aims to make an environmental friendly, Inexpensive and

free bio-plastic. And create biodegradable bio-plastic that will match the

quality in terms of tensile strength and chemical resistance of many

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conventional plastic being used today. Specifically, it aims to answer the

following questions:

1. Will there be significant differences in the amount degraded of

the bio-plastic when they are put in the freshwater, compost soil for 1

week?

2. What will happen if the bio-plastic put with hot water for 2

minutes?

3. What will happen if the bio-plastic put in the fire?

4. How much weight bio-plastic can take ?

C. HYPOTHESIS

According to the problem stated above, here are the researcher’s

assumption about the topic;

1. There will no significant differences in in the amount degraded of

the bio-plastic when they are put in the freshwater, compost soil for 1

week.

2. There is no much change will happen if it put with a hot water.

3. The bio-plastic will melt when it put in the fire.

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4. Bio-plastic can lift 50 to 300 grams.

C. RATIONALE

The project was conducted as the researchers became aware that

the global warming is one of the main reason why the world is suffering.

The project can reduce our problem in global warming because it needs

no burning to decay. It is focus more on lessening the littering of plastics

by using this product, the biodegradable plastic. Also, the curiosity of

researchers increased when the result of collected data states that only

few researchers have conducted the same study, that way the

researchers was inspired to conduct the experiment.

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter indicates the ideas, also the history, relevant to the

experiment to provide information and further elaborate different

standpoints that were the foundation of the proposed study, also on the

background study of the different methods and concepts used by other

Researchers that applies to the present study.

According to Dr. Ajay Kumar (2017), bio-plastics or bio-organic

plastics are a form of plastic derived from renewable biomass sources

such as vegetable oil, corn starch or microbioata in contrast to fossil fuel

plastics which are derived from petroleum residues. Biodegradable

polymers will play an important role in the packaging sector in future.

Bio-plastic polymers have great potential to contribute to material

recovery, reduction of landfill, customized products and use of

renewable resources. Bio-plastics production consumes fewer fossil fuel

resources than petroleum based plastics because no fossil fuel feedstock

are used. They emit less carbon dioxide than petro-plastic over their life

cycle. Bio-plastics consume less energy to produce than petroleum

based plastics. They have fewer health concerns associated with them.

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In future, bio-plastics may be more widely used for general food

packaging and may also form major components in electronics housings

and vehicles. Bio-plastics could also be used in more sophisticated

applications such as medicine delivery systems and chemical micro-

encapsulation. They may also replace petro-chemical-based adhesives

and polymer coatings.

However, there are several surveys concerning starch for the

production of biodegradable plastics. Nevertheless, starch limitations

with reference to its moisture resistance and its mechanical properties

restrict its use significantly.

To deal with these difficulties, starch is used in mixtures with

plasticizing elements and other biodegradable polymers. In the last few

years, bio polymers derived from fermentation, such as poly lactic acid

(PLA) produced from sugar or starch, have been in an outstanding

position. A better resistance to moisture makes them suitable for use in

several markets.

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RALATED STUDIES

Local

The diversity and ubiquity of plastic products substantially testify

to the versatility of the special class of engineering materials known as

polymers. However, the non-biodegradability of these petrochemical-

based materials has been a source of environmental concerns and

hence, the driving force in the search for 'green' alternatives for which

starch remains the front liner. Starch is a natural biopolymer consisting

predominantly of two polymer types of glucose namely amylose and

amylopectin. The advantages of starch for plastic production include its

renewability, good oxygen barrier in the dry state, abundance, low cost

and biodegradability. The longstanding quest of developing starch-

based biodegradable plastics has witnessed the use of different starches

in many forms such as native granular starch, modified starch,

plasticized starch and in blends with many synthetic polymers, both

biodegradable and non-biodegradable, for the purpose of achieving cost

effectiveness and biodegradation respectively. However, most starch-

based composites exhibit poor material properties such as tensile

strength, yield strength, stiffness and elongation at break, and also poor

moisture stability. This therefore warranted scientific inquiries towards

improving the properties of these promising starch-based biocomposites

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through starch modification, use of compatibilizers and reinforcements

(both organic and inorganic), processing conditions, all in the hope of

realizing renewable biodegradable substitutes for the conventional

plastics. (Oyeyemi Fabunmi, Olayide & Tabil, Lope & Panigrahi,

Satyanarayan & Chang, Peter, 2010)

Foreign

In recent decades, the growing environmental awareness has

encouraged the development of biodegradable materials from

renewable resources to replace conventional non-biodegradable

materials in many applications. Among them, polysaccharides such as

starches offer several advantages for the replacement of synthetic

polymers in plastics industries due to their low cost, non-toxicity,

biodegradability and availability (Fajardo et al., 2010, Simkovic, 2013).

Several studies investigated the use of starch and chitosan in the

production of biofilms (Bourtoom and Chinnan, 2008, Dang and Yoksan,

2014 Fajardo et al., 2010, Kittur et al., 2002Lopez et al., 2014, Pelissari

et al., 2009, Pelissari et al., 2011Tuhin et al., 2012, Xu et al., 2005).

However, since chitosan films are fragile and require plasticizers to

reduce the frictional forces between the polymer chains to improve

mechanical properties and flexibility, addition of polyols such as glycerol

may reduce this drawback (Leceta et al., 2013). Furthermore, chitosan

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hydrophobic nature and mechanical properties can also be modified and

improved through blends with poly (ethylene glycol), poly (vinyl

alcohol), polyamides,poly(acrylic acid), gelatin, starch and cellulose

(Arvanitoyannis et al., 1997, Kuzmina et al., 2012Lee et al., 1998, Zhai

et al., 2004).

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CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

MATERIALS:

The tools and materials needed in conducting an experiment to

make a bio-plastic product out of corn starch are cassava/corn starch,

vinegar, glycerin, and water, they are the substances that would be

mixed together. While we need a spatula, protractor, a flat container

and stove to perform the complete experiment.

PROCEDURE:

A. PREPARATION OF NEEDED MATERIALS

The materials such as the cassava/corn starch, glycerin, water,

and vinegar were all properly put in a table. And the flat container,

protractor, and spatula were put separately, while the stove was also

prepared. They were gathered to be used by the researchers as they

conducted the experiment of bio-plastic product.

B. MIXING OF SUBSTANCES

After the preparation of everything, it’s time to mix the

substances. First, they put 1 tbsp. of corn starch in an empty container

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and then put a 6 tbsp. of water and stir it. Until it looked like a milk.

Then a 1 tsp. of glycerin and vinegar were added to the mixture. Stirring

it until such time that it was ready to be put on a low fire.

C. HEATING/BOILING THE MIXTURE

The mixture of substances was ready to be put on low fire. It was

kept stirring while waiting for it to boil, and after few seconds of heating,

there were bubbles forming. Just stir and stir and stir it until a sticky

paste was formed.

D. FORMATION AND PUTTING THE MIXTURE IN A CONTAINER

When there was already sticky paste formed, turning off the

stove, they poured the mixture in an empty container and spread it

evenly using a protractor. As smooth as possible and as thin as it can

possibly be.

E. SOLIDIFICATION

Lastly, after it’s done putting in a container, it was ready for

solidification. It was put in a place wherein the temperature is not cool

nor hot and no any disturbance while it was drying for few days.

F. OBSERVE THE FINISHED BIO-PLASTIC PRODUCT

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When it was checked after few days, there you can see the

finished product. The bio-plastic made from corn starch.

Flowchart of the whole process.

BIOPLASTIC MADE FROM

PREPARATION OF NEEDED MIXING OF SUBSTANCES

FORMATION AND PUTTING

TEST THE STRENGTH

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CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS OF DATA

In this chapter, data are shown by pictures. This pictures are the

experiments that have done to show the strength of bio-plastic. The

physical changes and other changes that happen are shown in the

pictures.

The bio-plastic made out from cornstarch which was the final

product turned out like a real plastic; one could actually know that it

was made from a cornstarch just by looking at it. It captured the texture

of a plastic. Before accomplishing such product the researcher used

some experiment to try its strength.

EXPERIMENT 1. Putting the bio-plastic in a compost soil for 1 week.

The picture shows that the bio-plastic that was put in the soil,

became scattered into tiny pieces and became hard. This shows that

the insects that can found in the soil like ant, eating the bio-plastic made

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from cornstarch. The bio-plastic decomposed in a soil, and not throwing

it in trash can.

EXPERIMENT 2. Putting the bio-plastic in a freshwater for 1 week.

The pictures that shown above is the bio-plastic after putting it

in a fresh water for 1 week, became sticky and returning to its liquid

form. This shows us that the bio-plastic won’t last if it will leave with a

water for a days. This product still need improvement to stay in its solid

form for long.

EXPERIMENT 3. Testing Bio-plastic with hot water for 2 minutes.

The picture shows that the bio-plastic that was put in a hot water for 2

minutes became soft than to its original form but it didn’t melt. Compare

to original plastic nothing happened when it put a hot water.

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EXPERIMENT 4. Put the bio-plastic in a fire.

The pictures shows that the bio-plastic pops when it put in the

fire, like when the wood used as a firewood and it have black on it like

a charcoal, but compare to the original plastic that used for everyday, it

melts right away after putting it in the fire. This shows that the original

plastic and the bio-plastic have a different texture when it burn.

The product still needs improvement to use it for long even if will

put a water or even a hot water. This product is effective substitute for

the plastic that have many chemicals.

EXPERIMENT 4. Weight can bio-plastic take.

The pictures shows that the commercial plastic (picture at the

left) and bio-plastic (picture at the right), can both lift heavy things even

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if in small piece. The bio-plastic can hold much weight because it has a

hard texture when it dry and bio-plastic won’t break easily.

TABLE 1. Commercial plastic and Bio-plastic.

This table shows the comparison of the commercial plastic to the

bio-plastic in the following characteristics or experiment conducted, also

the toxicity and its biodegradability:

Characteristics Commercial Plastic Bio-plastic

Strength/ lift things √ √

Flexibility √ √

Durability √ √

Toxic free √

Biodegradability √

Discussion:

The table 1 showing that the bio plastic and the commercial plastic is

almost the same, they just different in the toxicity, because bio-plastic

is eco-friendly. And in biodegradability the bio-plastic have the ability

to decomposed.

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CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION, SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION

A. CONCLUSION

Based on the experiment that conducted it concluded that,

cornstarch is effective ingredients for making a biodegradable plastic to

replace the present plastic that using now. But the durability of bio-

plastic is not that strong to withstand in a long time to use. If it will use

with a water, much better to use a glass or original plastic, because bio-

plastic can’t stay hard in the water.

B. SUMMARY

The bio-plastic have a big help to lessen the problems in the

community like flooding, and to avoid the increasing problem in the

ozone layer. It is effective to avoid the flooding because it turns into

liquid or melt if get soaked and leave for a days. You can use many

ingredients for making a homemade plastic and one of it, is using a

starches like cornstarch. The starch is converted into a polymer, the

main ingredient in materials that have a plastic-like feel. The plastics

can be clear or opaque, soft or hard. A kind of acid called polylactic acid

(PLA) is made from the corn starch. This is why corn starch

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biocompostables are sometimes called PLA plastics. But this kind of

plastic is not a heat resistant. And it’s not a microwave. Can’t be thrown

in garbage only composted at home. And can’t stand water for a long

time. The result of experiment is very efficient and the bio-plastic was

effective, it naturally decompose using water only. And burning the

plastic is not recommendable as it result of chemical reaction that makes

the plastic dangerous.

C. RECOMMENDATION

The researcher recommends further research on the project

especially finding properties that could add to strengthen the thickness

of the plastic and its durability. And also, other possible components

ingredients that can use for making biodegradable plastic or bio-plastic

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APPENDICES

MAKING A BIOPLASTIC

●Adding all the following ingredients

need, in a bowl.

● Cornstarch ● Glycerin

● Water ● Vinegar

●Put the bowl with the ingredients in a low

heat and;

●Stir it until it became thick and smooth.

●After that put it in a flat container or

mold it. And let it dry for a few days.

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EXPERIMENT TO TEST THE STRENGTH OF BIOPLASTIC

After the bio-plastic dry.

The researcher put the bio-plastic in a soil.

●After putting the bio-plastic in a soil for a

week.

It scattered into tiny pieces.

●Put the bio-plastic in a fresh water for a

week.

●After putting it in the fresh water for a week.

It slowly returning to its liquid form.

●Put bio-plastic and original plastic with a hot

water for 2 minutes.

●After putting hot water for 2 minutes.

It became soft but not break into pieces,

while the original plastic does not change.

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●The researcher put the bio-plastic in the fire.

When the bio-plastic put in the fire.

The plastic popping and burn.

●After putting the bio-plastic in the fire the, the

part of bio-plastic that put in the fire became

black like a charcoal.

●The researcher also put the original plastic in

the fire, to see if the result is the same.

●The original plastic that put in the fore easily

melt when it touches fire.

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