Physicochemical Characterization of Biodegradable Plastik of Uwi Tuber Starch (Dioscorea alata) with Plasticizer Addition of Sorbitol and CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) Dina W Indriani, Sumardi H Sumarlan and Siti Munawaroh
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology,
Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
Abstract
Uwi tubers (Dioscorea alata) are widely used as biodegradable plastic materials because it contains high starch of 75,6 ~ 84,3%. Biodegradable plastic can be used as a decent food wrapping. The purpose of this study is to study the process of making biodegradable plastics and analyse the effect of a adding CMC and sorbitol plasticizers on the physicochemical properties of biodegradable plastics from uwi tuber starch with various parameters, solubility, thickness, tensile strength, elongation, modulus Young, compressive strength, biodegradability and surface morphology of functional groups. The making of plastic biodegradables is based on the melt intercalation method. The results of this study indicate that the additon of 0 gram CMC and 2 ml of sorbitol produce tensile strength values of 7,66 MPa, the best modulus Young is 5,52 MPa. The compressive strength values is lower that is equal to 0,150 kgf, the best elongation value is at the addition of CMC 0,20 gram and sorbitol 5 ml that is equal to 39,44%. The concentration of the CMC addition and sorbitol plasticizer on biodegradable plastic affects physical properties in SEM testing with the additon of 0 gram CMC and sorbitol 2 ml, which results are denser when compared with the addition of 0,40 gram CMC and 5 ml sorbitol. Therefore it can be concluded that this tuber has the potential for further bio plastic production
