Utilization of Solid Waste from Refined Sugar Industry (Filter Cake) as Biodegradable Foam (Biofoam)

Abstract

Biodegradable foam (biofoam) is an environmentally friendly alternative packaging to replace Styrofoam. The aim of this research is to synthesize biofoam from blotong waste, obtain its characteristics and determine the economic feasibility of developing the produced biofoam product. This research was conducted with descriptive experimental methods and economic feasibility studies through NPV and PI calculations. The results of this study indicate that biofoam with the addition of a glycerol plasticizer of 15% w / w has the best characteristics, which contain water content (6.321%) and the lowest water absorption (17.181%) and tensile strength (6.7778 N / mm2) and elongity (174.5%) are higher when compared to styrofoam packaging. All biofoam can be completely degraded within 25-30 days. The addition of glycerol plasticizer generally affects the characteristics of the biofoam produced. Based on the results of the analysis of the economic feasibility study, the development of biofoam based blotong products is feasible (positive NPV; PI> 1).