A Blend of Green Algae and Sweet Potato Starch as a Potential Source of Bioplastic Production and Its Significance to the Polymer Industry
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Date
2012-12
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International Journal of Green and Herbal Chemistry
Abstract
Our research focus was to obtain an alternative source of biodegradable
plastic from blue green algae and sweet potato starch to obtain a sustainable source of
plastic synthesis. Different concentrations of starch and dried green algae were used to
produce biopolymers. The amount of algae that produced the best bioplastic was the
objective of the research. High percentages of dry algae produced material with high
strength with a deep black colour. The concentration in percentage of sweet potato
starch was varied from 25-87.5 while the algae powder was varied from 21.-75%.
Cross-linking of cellulose polymers together through chemical processes produces
tough material, which can be converted to various forms. The manufacture of plastics
is a form of polymerization reaction. Bio-plastic or organic plastic is a polymer
material obtained from renewable biomass sources such as vegetable oil, corn starch,
potato starch, and pea starch unlike fossil-fuel plastics derived from petroleum. Starch
is made of long chains of glucose molecules joined together. It contains two polymers:
amylase which is straight chain and amyloceptin which is branched. When starch is
dried from an aqueous solution it forms a film due to hydrogen bonding between the
chains. However, the amyloceptin inhibits the formation of the bio-plastic. The
reaction of starch with Hydrochloric acid breaks down the amylopectin forming an
appreciable plastic.