Study on the Biodegradation Kinetics of Bioplastic Obtained from Tapioca Starch

Introduction. The study of biodegradable plastics, obtained from renewable raw materials, is an urgent problem of modern science.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to study the problem of replacing synthetic polymers with natural ones, namely to study in laboratory and field conditions the degree of biodegradability for plastic from renewable starch-containing raw materials.

Materials and methods. The biodegradable plastic was examined using infrared spectroscopy, which allowed a rough assessment of its chemical composition and suggested that it was a composite containing polylactic acid (PLA). Also, in the course of our work, we studied the physicochemical characteristics of biodegradable plastic (bioplast) produced by Siam Modified Starches (Thailand) from tapioca starch. In particular, the breaking stress (tensile strength) and elongation at break were determined using a RM-50 tensile testing machine. Conclusions have been drawn about the possibility of using this bioplastic as a substitute for traditional polymers - polyethylene and polypropylene.

Results. A comprehensive study of the biodegradability of products, made from the presented materials, was carried out. It has been established that they completely biodegrade under composting conditions within 2 months. The rate of biodegradation in laboratory soil was determined.

Conclusions. Thus, we presented data on the degree of decomposition for natural bioplastic under experimental and field conditions. This investigation resulted in the generation of a kinetic equation for the biodegradation of the studied bioplastic in natural environments. The presented work marks the beginning of solving the problem of replacing synthetic plastics with natural ones and producing packaging based on starch-containing raw materials. Video recording of the degradation degree for new polymer products in water and during composting was made. It has been established that in laboratory conditions bioplastic decomposes slowly, at a rate of 0.32-0.38% per day. Under field conditions, complete biodegradation of the polymer occurs within 2 months.

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