CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents literature and studies that will help in the analysis on the
bioplastic from banana psuedostem. These related literature and studies are taken both local
and foreign studies.

Related Literature

Plastic industry has a major role in making useful products such as sheets, tubes, slabs
and other domestic products which also has a significance for packaging products exporting and
importing it for economic purposes (Maulida et al, 2016).

Over the century, plastics have been a neccessity to our lives, particularly in the food
industry. The problem is that, it takes much time on order for it to completely disposed and
mainly, are produced by non-renewable materials such as petroleum, coal and natural gas.
Because of that, scientists provoke that plastics are one of the major cause of having a pollution
to the enviroment. Thus, may result to other problems in the society. (Laxmana et al, 2013)

In U.S, according to (Lui, 2006), though reusing, recycling and composing are just some
methods of the reduction in generating plastics waste, but doing these methods in the food
industry are severely limited. So, the rate of plastic recovery also deccelarate. Additionally,
recovery of packaging materials is often difficult due to lack of collection and processing
infrastructure, resulting primarily from a lack of consumer interest and education.

On the other hand, scientists have organize an alternative solution for producing a
plastics that would be decompose by a shorter time and that would use renewable materials;
production of bioplastics then began. As a matter of fact, bioplastics are not new, in the 1850s,
a British chemistcreated plastics from cellulose, a derivative of wood pulp. Later in the early
20th century, Henry ford experimented with soy-based plastics as an alternative to fossil fuels
for powering various automobiles. (Laxmana et al, 2013)
 To compare the performance of bioplastic and conventional, non-biodegradable plastic,
they certainly do not have the same performance characteristics but are fit-for- purpose in a
range of specific applications. To review the applications of bioplastic back in the past few
years, they are only said to be applied on medical fields due to its high production cost; while
conventional plastics dominate all other sectors and fields. (Baharuddin, 2009)

Bioplastics is a term used for packaging materials derived from renewable resources,
and which are considered safe to be used in food applications. In general, compared to
conventional plastics derived from petroleum, bio-based polymers have more diverse
stereochemistry and architecture of side chains which enable research scientists a greater
number of opportunities to customize the properties of the final packaging material. (Liu, 2006)

An alternative for a low cost and renewable substrate has been proposed by using
agriculture waste. In addition to performance and abundant sources, starch from agriculture
waste is the solution for an alternative.Therefore, production of bioplastics is the breakthrough
innovation to solve the environmental issues by using renewable and degradable natural
resources and to provide more cost effective bioplastics. (Maulida et al, 2016)

The plastics industry has developed considerably since the invention of various routes
for the production of polymers from petrochemical sources. Plastics have substantial benefits in
terms of their low weight, durability and lower cost relative to many other material types
(Andrady & Neal 2009; Thompson et al. 2009a).

Bio-plastics are a form of plastics derived from plant sources such as sweet potatoes,
soya bean oil, sugarcane,hemp oil, and corn starch. Starch as biodegradable polymer becomes
reasonable material for the production of bioplastics beacause of its low cost (Laxmana et al,
2013).

Bioplastics are the kind of plastic that is degradable and is/or derive from renewable
resources and not based in petrochemicals. It can be used to reduce the problem of
contaminating the plastic waste that suffocates and contaminates the environment (Acciona,
2015).
 Bioplastic are made with renewable resources and are ready for full commercial
exploitation. Biodegradability of bioplastic van contribute to alleviate the waste problem in our
current society. The possibility of shifting from heterogeneous waste inyo homogeneous waste
the use of bioplastic is particularly beneficial for the waste management as shown (Razza,
2012).

The number of different bio-based plastics resins available in the market is growing
every day. Corn starch is the most commonly used raw material for composing a compostable
plastic, which is converted into polymer with the same properties as conventional plastics.
Other compostable resins are made of cellulose, soybean protein, potato starch, and also
petroleum (Worldcentric, 2014).

Bio plastic is a term too broad to use and describe a wide range of plastic materials that
are either derived from renewable resource or biodegradable or both. So it is generalize into
three groups according to their properties: bio-based and biodegradable bio plastics, bio-based
and durable (non-biodegradable) bio plastics, petrochemical based and biodegradable bio
plastics. Bio–based and biodegradable bio plastic are mad e using renewable resource, an
example is plant biomass, and under certain environmental conditions, it will biodegrade. Bio–
based and durable bio plastics are made also using renewable resource but are design to have
longer lifespan. The use of renewable resource makes these kind of bio plastic more
sustainable. Petrochemical based and biodegradable bio plastics are materials which are
petrochemical–based but can be biodegraded by microbes in the ocean, compost or soil
(Science Learning Hub, 2013).

It is necessary to learn that not all bio–based plastics are bio degradable such as bio-
based polyethylene, cellulose acetate, bio–PET, bio–PVC and that biodegradable plastics means
that it is bio–based already but can also be fossil–based such as biodegradable polyesters
(Plastic Europe, 2015). Bio–based plastics are plastic that can be compose fully of biomass or
can be mixed with fossil (Narayan, 2010).

Cellulose-based plastics are commonly manufactured from wood pulp and used to make
film-based products such as wrappers. Thermoplastic starch is the most important and widely
used bioplastic, accounting for about 50 pc of the bio-plastics market. Pure starch’s ability to
absorb humidity has led to it being widely used for the production of drug capsules in the
pharmaceutical industry. Plasticizers, such as sorbitol and glycerin are added to make it more
flexible and produce a range of different characteristics. It is commonly derived from crops such
as potatoes or maize (Laxmana et al, 2013).

Among these, starch is a potentially useful material for biodegradable plastics because
of its natural abundance and low cost. Starch is the major carbohydrate in plant tubes and seed
endosperm, where it is found as granules. Each granule contains several million amylopectin
molecules accompanied by a much larger number of smaller amylose molecules. The largest
source of starch is corn and the other commonly used sources are wheat, potato and rice. In
this present work starch-based plastic was investigated for water resistance and for this
purpose natural additives were added to the starch plastic to improve this property. All of the
additives (cellulose, hemicellulose, zein and poly-3caprolactone) used in this experiment are
biodegradable and inexpensive since they can be obtained from agricultural residues (Gazpar et
al, 2005).

Bio–based plastics contain renewable carbon which means when it decompose it

doesn’t add to the amount of carbon in the atmosphere because the carbon in the plastic
comes from the atmosphere (EuropaBio, 2013).

Bio plastics have several benefits. The use of renewable resources to produce bio
plastics is the key for: increasing resource efficiency by the means of the resources being
cultivated on an (at least) annual basis and the principle of cascade use, as biomass can first be
used for materials and then for energy generation; reducing the emission of carbon footprints
and GHG of the product; conserving fossil fuels by substituting them step by step
(EuropeanBioplastic, 2016).

Native to the Philippines, Musa Paradisiaca or Cardava banana is common food and is
considered as staple in our country. It is a very sturdy plant that can grow up to 25 feet tall. This
banana has good wind resistance and cold tolerance. The trunk of this plant can grow as thick
as24 inches wide or 2 feet. The short stout banana makes excellent tostones (AgriStarts, 2016).
Cardava bananas have very big, strong and healthy pseudo stems that can grow up to 20 to 30
ft (6.1 to 9.1 m). The trunk can reach 3 ft (0.91 m) in diameters. The trunk and laves are dark
blue–green in color. After 150 to 180 days after flowering, the fruits can be harvested. Each
plant has a potential yield of 57 to 84 lbs (26 to 38 kg) per bunch. Each bunch usually consists of
16hands which is composed of 12 to 20 fingers. The fruits are 3.1 to 5.1 in. (8 to 13 cm.) long
and 0.98 to 2.17 in. (2.5 to 5.5 cm) in diameter. The flesh is white and starchy making it good
for cooking. (n.a., 2015)Bananas is a plant that can adapt in any landscape. Bananas can add a
lush, tropical look to any area. Bananas can grow in all types of climate if given an appropriate
care (Stokes Tropical, 2011).

Some specific types of bioplastics can even be produced directly by certain plants.
Others need to go through several processes before PHB bioplastic is formed. In this study,
banana stem waste is chosen as raw material to eventually produce PHB. Banana stem is known
to contain a high content of cellulose (cellulosic fibre), which can be the substrate for
microorganisms producing PHB. Agricultural activity involving banana generates large amounts
of residues, because each plant produces only one bunch of bananas (Baharuddin, 2009).

Banana pseudostems are crop waste, which cause economic loss and environment
issues after harvest. However, pseudostems are rich in dietary fibre and have health benefits.
This study explored the chemical composition (proximates, minerals, vitamins) as well as the
digestibility and functionality of the carbohydrates. Pseudostems had higher ratio of soluble
dietary fibre to insoluble dietary fibre, as compared to the commercial supplements. The main
neutral sugars in the pseudostems were glucose, mannose and xylose, while those in the
commercial supplements were xylose, arabinose and mannose, which had different
functionality compared to pseudostem fibre. This study is the first to demonstrate that banana
pseudostem is a potential dietary fibre supplement, which may bring health benefits to
consumers and economic profits to the banana growers (Ma, 2015).

Additionally, after harvesting the fruits, banana stem (also known as the bare
psuedostems) are cut and usually left in the soil plantation to be used as organic material. It has
been estimated that for every 60 kg of banana grown, 200 kg of waste stem is thrown away. In
Malaysia alone, the area for banana plantation is estimated to be 34, 000 hectars (Abdul Khalil
et al., 2006). Therefore, by utilizing these wastes, it is hoped to be a way of disposing the waste
instead of forgo them. Moreover using banana stem waste can significantly reduce the cost of
PHB production as it is cheap and widely available (Baharuddin, 2009).
Related Study

Biodegradable plastic production from fruit waste material and its sustainable use for green
applications

Polyhydroxy alkonoates (PHAs) or Polyhydroxy butyrates (PHBs) are the bioplastics, they
can replace a number of traditional plastics which are currently made up of petrochemicals. The
PHAs or PHBs obtained through biological origin assures the same commercial properties with
the advantage of being completely natural biodegradable. Same way bioplastics prepared using
the fruit waste will also serve as potential alternatives to the conventional plastic materials. The
present research work with emphasis on synthesis of bioplastic material by using fruit waste
mainly banana peel. The polymer produced using the banana peel blended with the glycerol
could help in the formation of plastic having the characteristic features of pliability, user
friendliness and strength, other tests like solubility and swelling studies were conducted to
ensure commercial properties of these bioplastic materials, characterization of synthesized
product was carried out by FTIR and XRD analysis, confirms the polymer is bioplastic. One of
most significant result obtained during the research is degradation tractability of the developed
product. There were plenty of reports on bioplastic synthesis using banana peel, however,
there are less reports on tractability biodegradation, thus produced biodegradation tractable
plastic could play vital role in the market for the sustainable use and commercial value added
product development (Yaradoddi, J., Patil, V., Ganachari, S., & Banapurmath, N., 2016).

Bioplastic and Vegetal Fiber Reinforced Bioplastic for Automotive Applications

Ever growing concerns related to sustainability and ecology have been the key driving
forces for developing bio-based plastics, especially for single-use packaging applications where
biodegradability is an advantage. Automotive applications are however much more challenging,
since durable bioplastics are expected to meet very demanding requirements, such as high
thermo-mechanical performance at both very short term (e.g. impact) and very long term (e.g.
creep, fatigue) often coupled to chemical resistance to aggressive automotive fluids. The
present chapter focuses on the main classes of thermoplastic and thermosetting bioplastics and
natural fiber-reinforced bioplastics, also called biocomposites, with current or emerging
interest for the modern car industry. It points out the great potential of these renewable
materials and their expected future evolution, without forgetting to mention their present
drawbacks and the necessary improvements for enhancing their durable applications in
automotive and related sectors.

Study of Bio-plastics As Green & Sustainable Alternative to Plastics

Water hyacinth is considered one of the most notorious aquatic weeds. It proliferates
rapidly in lakes, dams and irrigation channels and chokes them. But scientists have now shown
that the infamous weed isa rich source of carbohydrate and can be used to make biodegradable
plastic. Water hyacinth derived sugar molecules like lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses can be
converted into polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a polymer that is a raw material for making
biodegradable plastic.

A Review on Starch Based Nanocomposites for Bioplastic Materials

Nanocomposites consist of a polymer matrix reinforced with nano dimensional particles

instead of the conventional micro dimensional fillers. The interest in nanocomposites has been
inspired by the pioneering work conducted by researchers at Toyota company in the 1980s
where it was reported that presence of nanoparticles in the matrix contributed to significant
improvement in both physical and mechanical properties. In the years that followed, there was
a great deal of research efforts aimed at improving the performance of materials through use of
nanoparticles. The researchers observed that clay particles such as Montmorillonite (MMT),
hectorite, saponite and laponite can be effectively used as nanocomposites due to their unique
structure and properties. When added to form nanocomposites, the clays significantly enhance
the mechanical performance of bioplastics, improve their moisture resistance and significantly
reduce the release of plasticizer from starch. This achievement demonstrates how bioplastic
nanococomposites would play a leading role in fabricating bioplastics whose properties are
comparable to those of conventional plastics.