Production of bioplastic from waste agricultural biomass

Abstract

This study investigates the production of bioplastics from plant waste materials, specifically bean peel, plantain peel, and wooden wine cork, using an acid-alkaline pulping method to extract cellulose. The extracted cellulose was bleached, and its purity was confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Bean peel showed the highest cellulose yield (45.5%), followed by plantain peel (38.0%) and wooden wine cork (20.0%). The cellulose was converted into cellulose acetate via acetylation, with bean peel yielding 80% cellulose acetate. FTIR analysis revealed significant functional groups, and the degree of substitution for cellulose acetate ranged from 1.25 to 2.76. Biodegradation tests demonstrated significant weight reduction in the bioplastics over four weeks, confirming their biodegradability. This research underscores the potential of using plant waste as a sustainable raw material for bioplastic production, contributing to waste management and the reduction of plastic pollution.