Exploration of bioplastic from kepok banana corm starch reinforced with fiber of pineapple crown and bamboo

Abstract

The increasing use of plastics, driven by global population growth, has led to significant environmental challenges due to plastic waste. To address this issue, many studies have explored natural resources for developing bioplastics that are more degradable and renewable. This research utilized starch extracted from kepok banana corm waste as the primary base material, reinforced with cellulose derived from pineapple crowns and bamboo fibers. The objective was to evaluate the mechanical properties and biodegradability of the resulting bioplastics. A completely randomized design was applied with two factors: fiber type (pineapple crown or bamboo) and fiber mass. The findings revealed that the bioplastics produced exhibited relatively low tensile strength, moderate elongation, high water absorption, and strong degradability. Furthermore, bioplastics reinforced with pineapple crown fibers demonstrated superior structural performance compared to those reinforced with bamboo. These results highlight the potential of this bioplastic to be further developed toward achieving standardized properties.