Development of biodegradable packaging materials using Polylactic acid (PLA) and locally extracted starch

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to develop a biodegradable packaging material based on Polylactic Acid (PLA) and locally extracted starch. PLA is a biodegradable and bioactive polymer derived from renewable resources. Starch is a biodegradable polymer that can be extracted from different types of plant-based materials such as cassava tubers. Starch was extracted from cassava tubers by crushing, blending and sedimentation processes. The extracted product was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic technique (FTIR). Experimental results indicated that 25 wt. % of starch could be extracted from the cassava that was tested. Biodegradable PLA and starch-based blends were prepared by adding starch as the main additive. Soil burial test was performed to analyze the biodegradability of the developed product. Weight loss in starch containing samples gradually increased with time during the soil burial test. Experimental results also indicated that biodegradability of the products increased as the starch content is increased. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation also decreased as the starch content increased. These results indicated that the addition of starch to PLA is a better method to increase the biodegradability of the PLA –starch blends.