MAKING BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

ABSTRACT

Starch-based plastics are an important class of bio-plastics used to make biodegradable

products. Biodegradability can contribute to alleviating the waste problem of our current society.
In this paper, three case studies based on the use of starch-based plastics are shown.
Biodegradable products can both reduce the amount of waste produced and increase material
recycling and landfill diversion. The products analyzed and the main effects of shifting towards
biodegradable plastics are examined next. By using biodegradable mulch film, waste passes from
400 up to ≈ 0 kg per mulched hectare. By using biodegradable catering items, the average
recycling (including organic recycling) rate increases from ≈ 0 up to 50% whereas landfill
diversion increases by 36% on average across EU-27. By shifting towards biodegradable carrier
bags, a substantial reduction of contaminants present in bio-waste and screened off by
composting plants results in an almost fivefold increase of bio-waste quality. The possibility of
shifting from heterogeneous waste (non-biodegradable plastics + bio-waste) into homogeneous
waste (biodegradable plastics + bio-waste) makes the use of bio-plastics particularly beneficial
for the waste management eco-profile as shown by previous life cycle assessment studies
available in literature.

Plastic bags are actually illegal in Santa Monica, CA (and soon to be Los Angeles)
because of their threat to the environment due to insane resistance to biodegradation. I didn't
think they were that bad, but one plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to break down
completely, and it can even ruin your car along the way. So, creating a better biodegradable
plastic bag would be a huge achievement. The only question is how one would go about doing
so, and what materials could be used? That's the question you can answer for your project. This
project used of starch as an effective component for a biodegradable plastic, but you could try
using a few different starches and see what works best.

RAW MATERIALS NEEDED IN MAKING BIOPLASTICS

 sugarcane ethanol, corn starch, sugar beet starch, cassava starch or any other starch that is
available.
 Water
 Cooking oil, Vegetable oil etc.
PROCESS OF MAKING BIO PLASTICS

1. Gather the materials needed.

2. Proportions. (1 TBSP Starch: 1.5 TBSP Water: 3-5 Drops Cooking Oil)
3. Mix the ingredients together to form a milky looking liquid. Once you have done this it is
ready to be micro-waved or heated.
4. Put the mixture in the microwave and set the microwave on high for 25-30 seconds. The
mixture should start to bubble and should become slightly transparent. Keep an eye on
the mixture to make sure nothing goes wrong. You may also use any other heating
container but make sure to stir the solution until it thickens.
5. When it looks slightly transparent, take it out. Let it cool a bit so you can handle it. Then
knead the plastic until it is soft and can be molded like play-dough. Now you can mold it
into whatever shape you want it to be. Once molded leave it for about 24 Hrs. for it to
cure and become solid. It's best to keep the surface from drying out while it is curing. The
image below is the plastic when shaped.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

By creating an alternative for non biodegradable plastics such as bio-plastics here are
some list benefits and good effects that we and our environment can get out of using it:

 Waste Reduction

Plastic makes up around 13 percent of the waste stream, representing 32 million tons of waste.
While around 9 percent of that plastic goes into recycling programs, the remainder enters
landfills, where it takes up space for hundreds of years or more. Biodegradable plastics, on the
other hand, may break down over the course of several months, depending on the materials
involved and the conditions of their disposal. While not every form of landfill-friendly
biodegradable plastic will completely break down, any reduction in the space required to dispose
of this material will ease pressures on the waste stream.

 Source Reduction

Biodegradable plastics also help conserve petroleum supplies. Traditional plastic comes from
heating and treating oil molecules until they turn into polymers, representing about 2.7 percent of
America's petroleum consumption. Bio-plastics come from natural sources, including crops like
corn and switch grass. While in some cases, the bio-plastic material mixes with traditional plastic
to give products more strength, any percentage that comes from a renewable source saves
petroleum. As these technologies mature, they offer the capability of producing plastic packaging
and items even after the world's oil has run out.
  Energy Savings

Biodegradable plastics can also represent a significant energy savings. For example, the corn-
based plastic polymer PLA uses 65 percent less energy than creating a similar polymer from raw
petroleum. In addition, it generates 68 percent fewer greenhouse gases during its manufacture,
representing a significant environmental benefit.

PROS AND CONS OF BIOPLASTICS

PROS:

• Derived from renewable sources, unlike conventional plastics which are derived from
petrochemical sources

• Often biodegrade more quickly

• Do not leach out toxic chemicals

CONS:

• Derived from food stock

• Mixing bio-plastics with regular plastic may contaminate the recycling process

• It may become a lower quality of plastics

RESOURCES

https://science.wonderhowto.com/how-to/best-investigatory-projects-science-16-fun-easy-ideas-
kickstart-your-project-0147689/

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/apj.1648/bioplastics

https://sciencing.com/benefits-biodegradable-plastic-22789.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Biodegradable-Plastic/

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/MatlSci_p034/materials-
science/biodegradable-plastics#summary
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Chem_p101/chemistry/turn-
milk-into-plastic