Karakteristik Bioplastik Pati Bonggol Pisang Dengan Variasi Konsentrasi Gliserol

Abstract

Kemasan yang banyak digunakan saat ini adalah kemasan plastik. Kemasan plastik konvensional terbuat dari polimer sintesis minyak bumi yang bersifat bersifat sulit terdegradasi dan dapat menyebabkan masalah lingkungan sehingga diperlukan alternatif pengganti. Salah satu alternatif pengganti yaitu bioplastik. Bioplastik merupakan plastik ramah lingkungan yang bersifat mudah terurai di alam dengan bantuan mikroorganisme. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh variasi konsentrasi gliserol terhadap karakteristik bioplastik pati bonggol pisang dan mendapatkan konsentrasi terbaik pada variasi gliserol terhadap karakteristik bioplastik pati bonggol pisang. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode eksperimen dengan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) 5 variabel dan 3 ulangan, yaitu konsentrasi gliserol sebesar 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% dan 5%. Pengujian karakteristik bioplastik meliputi ketebalan, densitas, daya serap air, kuat tarik, elongasi, modulus young, dan biodegradasi bioplastik. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian menyatakan variasi konsentasi gliserol berpengaruh terhadap ketebalan, densitas, daya serap air, kuat tarik, modulus young, biodegradasi dan berpengaruh tidak nyata terhadap nilai elongasi. Bioplastik terbaik pada konsentrasi gliserol 1% dengan karakteristik ketebalan 0,106 mm + 0,006, densitas 1,534 g/cm3 + 0,065, daya serap air 58,682% + 0,075, kuat tarik 16,490 MPa + 2,497, elongasi 14,413%, modulus young 121,362 MPa + 34,505 dan persen degradasi yaitu 12,992% + 0,012.  Plastic packaging is extensively utilized in contemporary society. The non-biodegradable nature of plastic poses significant environmental challenges; consequently, an alternative solution, namely bioplastic, is necessitated. Bioplastics are environmentally sustainable polymers that readily decompose in natural environments through microbial action. Banana weevil starch serves as a primary component in bioplastic production. Glycerol, an additional constituent in bioplastics, functions as a plasticizer to enhance the elasticity of the resultant bioplastics. This study aims to analyze the effect of glycerol concentration variations on the characteristics of banana hump starch bioplastic and determine the optimal glycerol concentration for achieving desired bioplastic properties. The research methodology employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five variables, specifically glycerol concentrations of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%. The evaluation of bioplastic characteristics encompassed thickness, density, water absorption, tensile strength, elongation, Young's modulus, and biodegradation of bioplastics. The research findings indicate that the most favorable bioplastic characteristics were observed at a glycerol concentration of 1%, with a thickness of 0.106 mm + 0.006, density of 1.534 g/cm3 + 0.065, water absorption capacity of 58.682% + 0.075, tensile strength of 16.490 MPa + 2.497, elongation of 14.413%, Young's modulus of 121.362 MPa + 34.505, and degradation percentage of 12.992% + 0.012.