Current World Environment

Introduction

Petroleum based derivatives are used for the products of plastics that made many drawbacks. In the production process it needs a large amount of energy, as well as Years were needed for it to degrade, and the ecosystem was also put in peril ¹. The packaging industries are mostly developed the plastics. Substitution is critical for the plastic bundling business since its evaluated to develop to 22 million tons by 2020 from 13.5 million tons in 2015. Half of the plastics are disposed after the single utilize, in line with the examination by the federation of Indian chambers of commerce and industry. By the petroleum sources these plastics are commonly made off; they’re non-corroding so require substitute source for instance, only a few grams of plastic (such as polyethylene) can take up to one hundred years to deteriorate beneath normal environment conditions. Because plastics be not able to downgrade by natural method in a short stretch of time, they are left as plastic waste, result in environmental issues. Bioplastic can be made many different substances, inclusive of starches, cellulose, or other biopolymers². There have been biodegradable polymers derived from cellulose and starches for many years; the first demonstration of a cellulose-based polymer, which launched the plastics industry, took place in 1862. Depending on how they are made, composable bioplastics plastics can decompose in either anaerobic or aerobic conditions. Food packaging, dining utensils, insulation, and packaging materials are a few typical uses for bioplastics ³. There is a revived interest in the study of starch-based materials, according to these works and the reference they provide.

Starch is an affordable and plentiful product available in nature. In a wide variety of environments, it is fully decomposable and it can be utilized for the specific needs of market in the development of completely perishable products⁴. In the field of food technology, engineering, pharmaceuticals, packaging, and agriculture, starch is used extensively these days ⁵. The biological carbon cycle is closed when starch-producing plants decompose or burn their starch products because they recycle the atmospheric CO2 that the plants captured during growth. The application of cassava starch films showed promise; they looked good, were transparency and shiny, and weren’t sticky. To reduce the postharvest losses, created edible coatings made of cassava starch ⁶. Cassava starch is made of two polymers amylose and amylopectin. Properties such as granule size, strength of the film, gelatinization, glass transition temperature, and the presence of plasticizers were impacted by high amylose content in starches. Physically and chemically, these two chains differ greatly from one another.

Waste newspapers are become disposed of by being thrown into the ocean, which are mainly consist of cellulose. Here, we are producing bioplastics from waste materials like cassava starch and newspaper waste. Newspapers, which come from the 500,00 trees those are cut down every week and of which 88% are never recycled, are get dumped into the water⁷.

Benefit of after removing the starch from the discarded cassava, it can be utilized for making biofuel. In addition to providing an economically viable alternative for cassava farming, the use of cassava would lessen the negative effects of the widespread usage of packaging film made of petroleum (polyethylene, polystyrene, etc..). since the goal of this study was to determine how bioplastic starch affected the sheet’s characteristics, the ratio of newspaper pulp to bioplastic was first se at 50% newspaper pulp fibers and 50% bioplastic starch (N50%: B50%), and the bioplastic content was gradually boosted. It was believed that adding fibers to the bioplastic sheets would enhance their functionality ⁸. After tensile strength testing, the sheets were analyzed for weight changes in water absorption and strength to investigate the properties of bioplastic sheets made from different starch bases mixed with recycled newspaper pulp.

The creation of bioplastic is an entirely distinct function than that of synthetic plastic. After rice and maize, cassava could become the world’s third largest food crop. Starch might be an organic biopolymer. Potential analysis of the developed bioplastic and functional group present within the bioplastic, which can be determine by the use of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The following are some characteristics of biodegradation of bioplastic: loss of weight, change in tensile strength, change in dimensions, change in chemical and physical properties, production of carbon dioxide, change in molecular weight distribution, and bacterial activity in soil ³. These plastic’s qualities of biodegradability have a beneficial effect on society, and industries and researchers are get attracted to recyclable packaging because of its widespread use.

The novelty of this study lies in the innovative use of Aloe vera gel as a plasticizer in bioplastic production, a novel approach that leverages the natural properties of Aloe vera to enhance the flexibility, processability, and biodegradability of bioplastics. Unlike conventional plasticizers derived from non-renewable, petroleum-based sources, Aloe vera gel offers a sustainable alternative, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally friendly materials. The study uniquely combines Aloe vera with Cassava starch, creating a bioplastic blend that is both renewable and abundant, particularly in developing regions. Furthermore, the research stands out by systematically evaluating the mechanical, thermal, and biodegradation properties of the bioplastics, revealing that some formulations not only perform well but also degrade more rapidly in composting conditions. This comprehensive analysis highlights the potential of Aloe vera-based bioplastics for diverse applications, advancing the field with a material that addresses both environmental sustainability and practical performance.

Materials and Methods

Sample Preparation

Biopolymers have been utilized in the food sector to synthesize edible and biobased packaging materials. They have contained edible and food grade additives. Proteins, polysaccharides which are gums or carbohydrates and lipids are some of these kinds of biopolymers. The biopolymers were to be mixed with plasticizers and other additives, and the film's functioning or physical characteristics was to be examined by altering the film properties ⁹.

Extraction of Starch from Cassava

The cassava has been chopped into a small piece and peeled it before being ground into a paste in a mixer grinder. Afterwards with the help of a filter cloth the grounded cassava has been filtered and the extracted cassava filtrate was combined with water once again and filtered. After the starch mixture was allowed to settle for an hour, it was manually dewatered. Subsequently, the wet starch was exposed to air drying. Then the moisture was removed by drying the starch precipitate, it was crushed out with a mortar and pestle to ensure uniform size ¹⁰.

Preparation of Aloe vera Gel

Rather than using glycerol, aloe vera gel was chosen as a plasticizer to create a bioplastic. Then the aloe vera is washed, and the skin is discarded. Then, take an aloe vera gel, and it is washed with water 2 to 3 times. A filter cloth is then used to filter the gel after it has been ground in a mixer grinder ¹¹. 3ml of aloe vera gel were chosen from different concentrations.

Preparation of Newspaper Pulp

To obtain a lingo cellulosic fibrous pulpy material the waste newspaper was segmented into small pieces in the mortar and pestle then it was grinded to obtain a fine paste is known as paper sludge. The procedure preserves the cellulose fibers in the paper while removing lignin, which makes cellulose extraction easier ¹².

Preparation of Polymer Film

A weighing balance was used to measure the 3g of cassava starch. Additionally, 20ml of distilled water was heated to 100°C using a heating mantle. Subsequently, 0.5ml of vinegar, 3ml of newspaper extract, and 3ml of aloe vera gel were added to the distilled water and thoroughly mixed. Subsequently, cassava starch was added to the mixture in the heating mantle, and the mixture was constantly stirred for 30 minutes at 100°C using a glass rod. Starch becomes a polymer when heated with vinegar, which aids in the formation of a film. Only the amylose chain remains when the acetic acid in vinegar destroys the amylopectin's cross-linking, and the aloe vera gel acts as a plasticizer to keep the film together.

To create the polymer film, cassava starch, newspaper extract, and aloe vera gel were mixed together. To finally bring all of the components together, the mixture was heated to 100°C until it started to boil. The bubbles were then allowed some time to settle. The edible biofilm is obtained once they are settled and dried. All of the mixture required heating in order to combine and produce the film because they each had unique qualities. After pouring, the viscous result was dried for one or two days at room temperature to create a solid film. The purpose of the drying process was to facilitate the sheet removal. Biodegradable test results were analysed by keeping edible package in open environment to observe its decomposition by the environmental flora and fauna ¹³.

Result and Discussion

Sample Preparation

Aloe vera gel, vinegar, newspaper extract, distilled water, and cassava starch made from cassava tubers were mixed to create polymer film. Throughout the whole procedure, the temperature of these blended mixture was maintained at 100° C. Subsequently, the resultant liquid was well combined in order to form the polymer film. Vinegar plays a role in removing the cross link of amylopectin, which actually resulted in the starch containing only an amylose chain. The polymer is produced in part by the amylose chain in starch and is mixed with Aloe vera (a plasticizer) ¹⁴.

Figure 1A: Cassava Starch Click here to view Figure

Figure 1B: Biopolymer Film Click here to view Figure

Tensile Strength and Elongation

The experimental procedure was carried out. The conventional technique for analyzing the bioplastic film's tensile properties. The tensile strength was tested using a texture analyzer. The edible film was first made by cutting it, and then each end was secured inside the machine to be dragged in the opposite way. The force required to drag the edible film until it breaks is used to determine its tensile strength. The proportion of the edible film length variation between before and after the texture analyzer drags it is known as elongation. The bioplastic film had a tensile strength of determined to be 5.53 N. Additionally, the percent mean breaking elongation was found to be 1.2%, indicating the extent to which the film can stretch before reaching its breaking point. These findings are crucial for understanding the mechanical properties of the bioplastic film, particularly its flexibility and strength, which are essential considerations for its potential use in packaging applications¹¹.

Thickness

Bioplastics with an even distribution of fibre would have a higher tensile strength after reinforcement Additionally, the tensile strength of bioplastics might be further enhanced by the fibre’s mechanical strength and thickness. The thickness yields a result of 0.05 mm ¹⁵.

Figure 2A: Tensile Strength Click here to view Figure

Figure 2B: Elongation Click here to view Figure

Soil Burial Test

The produced film's biodegradability was tested using the soil burial method. The manufactured biopolymer utilized in this process was buried for a predetermined period of time, and before and after burying in the ground, its size, biodegradability, and microbe content were evaluated. After that, it is ascertained by visual inspection that the film has been shrunk from its original dimensions. The film was buried in the ground on the first day. The film was buried in soil and examined after three days. The film's size had shrunk, and a test for bacteria and fungi allowed to determine how degradable it was. On the fifteenth day, the film is deteriorated completely ¹⁶.

Water Absorption and Solubility

Water absorption and solubility was measured. After the dried sheets were first weighed, they were left in room temperature distilled water for a full day. Twenty percent of the sheet were remained after 24 hours, with the remaining 80% having dissolved. The sheet was then weighed once more ¹.

Water absorption percentage (%) = (W_i – W_f) / W_f x 100%

In this case, W_i represents the starting weight (g) prior to submersion in water, and W_f denotes the weight (g) following submersion.

FTIR

Fourier Transform Infrared, or FTIR, is a characterisation method that uses infrared radiation to pass through a material or sample whose energy matches the wave frequency to observe how the atoms or molecules vibrate. Film component interactions are assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. It is a tool for analysis that gives details about the functional groups on the biopolymer film's surface. FTIR is commonly used to measure the emission or absorption of solid, liquid, or gas, as well as to obtain an infrared spectrum. FTIR sticks to broad band spectrum rather than sticking to a narrow frequency of the band. FTIR is a notable study as they throw light on acquiring deep knowledge about the compounds and molecules like 38 hydrogen and oxygen or any other chemical bonds that determine the reaction between them. Peak intensity and wavenumber variations give qualitative information about the chemical modification of the polymeric structure.

The most important diagnostic peaks are seen in the wavenumber range of 4500 cm-1 to 500 cm-1, which is represented by the spectra in Figure 3.  The principal peaks are recorded at 1149.06 cm-1, 1078.68 cm-1, and multiple other smaller peaks. In the presence of a plasticizer, the graph shows a shifting peak towards a higher wavenumber ¹⁷.

Figure 3: FTIR spectral analysis Graph Click here to view Figure