KARAKTERISTIK DAYA SERAP AIR DAN BIODEGRADABILITAS PADA BIOPLASTIK BERBASIS PATI SINGKONG DENGAN PENAMBAHAN POLYVINYL ALCOHOL

Abstract

The increasing of conventional plastics has become a major concern because it is the largest supplier of waste problems. In addition, conventional plastics also produce petroleum which is a non-renewable material. Bioplastics are substitutes for conventional plastics with renewable materials and easily decomposed by microorganisms into water and carbon dioxide. Starch-based bioplastics have weaknesses such as low mechanical characteristics compared to conventional plastics, but these problems can be overcome by adding
fillers such as ZnO, plasticizers, and additives such as PVOH to improve the characteristics of bioplastics. This type of bioplastic is made by mixing cassava starch with 15% w/w, glycerol, ZnO filler, and PVOH BP-05 with a concentration of 7% w/w into water with continuous heating and stirring. The results showed that bioplastics with ZnO filler had good water absorption but had lower biodegradability. The addition of PVOH increases the biodegradability of bioplastics with ZnO filler. Bioplastic with the addition of ZnO filler and PVOH BP-05 with a concentration of 7% w/w resulted in good water absorption with a water absorption value of 73.47%, while biodegradability produced the best value with a value of 73.03%. Decomposition of bioplastics in general will decompose for six months compared to conventional plastics which can decompose for hundreds of years. Therefore, bioplastics can be a major highlight in replacing conventional plastics.