Production of Agar-Agar and Sago Based Bioplastic: A Review

Abstract

Abstract: Plastics made from petrochemicals have long been popular as packing materials because of their excellent barrier qualities, stiffness, tensile strength, and tear strength. Despite their widespread use, plastics have a number of drawbacks, including a poor water vapour transmission rate, non-biodegradability and other issues that contribute to environmental degradation. Newer options came forward regarding usage of the bio-plastics, while keeping in the mind pollution and harm caused to our environment. Bio-plastics are mainly produced from various biological resources such as, potatoes, potato peels, corn, sugarcane, wheat, rice, seaweed-based bioplastic with various agar-agar, seaweed, starch or cellulose based proportions as well as plasticizers and their significant impact on physical-properties, and the bioplastic characteristics. The process used in the production of bioplastics is also investigated. The use of single-use plastic as a replacement in food packaging and other uses is considered. Bioplastic made from seaweed is environmentally beneficial in nature because it degrades fully in soil. Agar-agar and sago-based bioplastics would have a greater chance of overcoming plastic pollution due to their superior mechanical qualities and shorter shelf life spam. Keywords: Bioplastic, Agar-Agar, Sago, Biodegradable, Petrochemical