Kidapawan City Division

Researc
h tuberosum) Starch as Bioplastic Cup
Potato (Solanum

Article
Trisha Mae G. Sta. Maria
Kidapawan City National High School, Science, Technology and Engineering Program, Kidapawan City
Philippines

Abstract
As the world’s landfills begin to overflow with non-biodegradable, oil-based
plastics, in effect, toxic chemicals leach from plastic and are discovered in nearly
everybody’s blood and tissues. Cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine
disruption and other disorders are associated with exposure to them. However, the
researcher took this inspiration and produced a bioplastic made of potato starch. The
researcher gathered potatoes and produced the starches and let them dry in different
methods: sun dried, air dried, and oven dried. The bioplastic cup was tested whether or
not the bioplastic is durable enough to withstand stretching and water resistance. The
results were shown and it was evident that the bioplastic cup is durable enough to
withstand stretching with the result of stretching length mean of 7.9cm (Treatment 1)
and is water resistant with the result of 8 hours and more (Treatment 1). This study
proved that potato starch is effective in bioplastic cup production.

Keywords: Bioplastic, Cup, Potato Starch.

Introduction
While plastics improve our lives in countless ways, from food safety to medical

care, their inertness and disinclination to break down — the very properties that make

them so useful in most applications raise the specter of pollution (“The Many Faces of

Bioplastics”, 2013). As the world’s landfills begin to overflow with non-biodegradable,

oil-based plastics, scientists are beginning to develop remarkable solutions to these

seemingly overwhelming problems (“The Chemistry of Bioplastics”, 2017).

 These rapidly biodegradable plastics have high value in some circumstances

such as when plastics become inevitably mixed with other streams of compostable

waste and would otherwise need to be hand separated. After the crop is concluded, the

waste organic material, including the ties and other plant-based plastics such as the

small pots in which plants are grown as seedlings, can be quickly and efficiently cleared

and taken to be composted (“Bioplastics: an important component of global

sustainability”, 2011).

Two tightly packed polysaccharides, amylose and amylopectin consist mainly of

potato starch granules. Amylose is the main linear element for 20-30 percent, but in

reality a fraction is mildly branched. Typically, amylopectin is the main element and is

widely branched with brief chains with an average length of 22-25 glucosyle residues

(Eric Bertoft and Andreas Blennow, 2016). Plants store starch in special organelles

called amytoplasts which are present in the cells in the form of granules to save the

energy produced by photosynthesis (Matthieu Schon, Pit Schwartz, n.d).

Making bioplastic from potatoes can be a huge advantage to the environment to

assist lower dependence on fossil fuels as the society is attempting to get rid of single-

used plastics and lower the number of plastics used.

Significance of the Study

Making a bioplastic from potatoes can be a huge advantage to the environment

to assist lowering dependence on fossil fuels as society is attempting to get rid of single-

used plastics and lower the number of plastic used. The researcher would therefore like

to undertake the research in Kidapawan City on the use of potato starch as bioplastic

cups.

Statement of The Problem

The statements of the problem are the following:

 What is the quality of the bioplastic cup from potato starch in terms of tensile,

strength, physical appearance, and water resistance?

 Which is the most effective treatment potato starch as a bioplastic cup?

 Is there a significant difference among the treatments used in the study?

This study revolves around the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference

among the treatments of potato starch as bioplastic cup used in the study.

 The potato starch as bioplastic cup will help reduce the pollution in the earth’s

environment, this will also help remove all plastics in the earth which can cause

bad effects in people and animals’ health and their habitats.

Materials and Methods

Study Design and Study Area

The study on the potato was laid out using an experimental design specifically

the complete randomized design to test its effectiveness as a bioplastic. This study was

conducted in Quimco St., Kidapawan City.

The researcher gathered majority of the materials in Kidapawan City which are

the 15kg of potatoes, glycerin and vinegar.

Extract starch from potato, cut the potatoes into cubes and blend them until the

potato cubes are liquidized. Then put the liquidized potato in a filter paper until all the

potato extract drains. After draining the extract, put the blended potato in a container

with water, after 30 mins, replace and drain the water until the starch appears. After that

dry them in a cooking pan until it hardens and then blend them again until it becomes a

fine potato starch. The researcher proceeded to the production of plastic, mix the potato

starch with glycerin, vinegar, and water then added food coloring (optional), then mix.

Cool it in a medium heat mix it until it becomes a gelatin like then dry it for a day. Mold it

into a cup and dry them for a few days until it becomes hard.

The researcher then prepared a survey that was answered by randomly selected

respondents which showed the effectiveness of the bioplastic produced from potato

starch. The gathered data was subjected to statistical analysis using Single-factor

ANOVA.
RESULTS
Table 1.1 Quality of Bioplastic in terms of Tensile Strength
Length of Extension
Treatments Replication 1 Replication 2 Replication 3 Mean
Sun dried(T1) 6.3 cm 8.5 cm 9 cm 7.9 cm
Air dried(T2) 5 cm 4.8 cm 5.3 cm 5 cm
Oven 6 cm 5.9 cm 6.1 cm 6 cm
dried(T3)

Table 1.1 showed the quality of the bioplastic in terms of tensile strength.
Treatment 1 Replication 1 reached 6.3 cm before it was cut into half, Replication 2 got
8.5cm and Replication 3 got 9 cm with a mean of 7.9 cm. Treatment 2 replication 1 got
5cm, replication 2 got 4.8cm and replication 3 got 5.3 cm with a mean of 5 cm. Finally,
Treatment 3 Replication 1 got 6 cm, Replication 2 got 5.9 cm, Replication 6.1 cm with a
mean of 6 cm. This table revealed that treatment 1 has a great quality in terms of tensile
strength.

Table 1.2 Water Resistance

No. of minutes/hours before sagging
Treatments Replication 1 Replication 3 Replication 3
Sun dried(T1) *8 hours *8 hours *8 hours
Air dried(T2) 40 mins. 1 hour 1 hour
Oven dried(T3) 2 hours 2 hours 2 hours

Legend:
*8 hours – Beyond 8 Hours

Table 1.2 showed the water resistance of the bioplastic. Treatment 1 Replication
1 reached beyond 8 hours before it sagged so are Replications 2 and 3. Treatment 2
Replication 1 reached 40 minutes before it sagged, Replications 2 and 3 reached an
hour before sagging. Treatment 1 Replications 1, 2, and 3 reached 2 hours before it
sagged. In this experiment, this shows that Treatment 1 is more resistant to water.
Table 1.3. Physical Appearance
#Respondents
Treatments R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 Mean
Sun dried(T1) 4 3 2 4 3.3 2.67 4 4 3.441111
Air dried(T2) 3 3 2 2.3 2 2.3 3.3 3.67 2.69625
Oven
dried(T3) 2 2.67 2 1.3 1 1.3 1.67 1 1.6175

Legend:
1.00-1.45 – Poor
1.46-2.45 – Slightly Good
2.46-3.45 – Good
3.46-4.00 – Very Good

In Table 1.3 the researcher selected random respondents to answer the survey
sheets and rate the product. The researcher gathered enough respondents to answer
the survey form, the physical appearance includes the texture and appearance of the
bioplastic cup. The researcher selected 8 respondents as shown in the table above.
Treatment 1 got an average of 10.125, treatment 2 got 8.125 and treatment 3 got 5.375.
By solving for the average, treatment 1 was found to be the best treatment among the
two other treatments.

Table 2. Most Effective Treatment

Treatments Tensile Strength Water Resistance Texture and
Appearance
Sun dried(T1) 7.9cm *8 hours 3.441111
Air dried(T2) 5cm 1 hour 2.69625
Oven dried(T3) 6cm 2 hours 1.6275

This table showed which among the treatments is the most effective treatment.
Treatment 1 is the most effective among all the treatments as shown on the table
above.
Table 3. Single-factor ANOVA on All Treatments

ANOVA
Source of Variation SS Df MS F P-value F crit
Between Groups 338 2 169 1.136771 0.381399 5.143253
Within Groups 892 6 148.6667

Total 1230 8        

In this table Single-factor ANOVA was used to determine if there is a significant

difference among the treatments. The results of the Single-factor ANOVA showed that
the three treatments has no significant difference since the P-value is 0.381399 which is
higher than the margin of error 0.05 after testing ANOVA single-factor.

DISCUSSION

The quality of the bioplastic from potato starch in terms of tensile strength,
physical appearance, and water resistance is good enough to be created into a
bioplastic cup. According to the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment and Riga
Technical University, potatoes contain starch, which is one of the best and variously
applicable polysaccharides which will be a great component of the bioplastic cup, which
also gives great qualities of the bioplastic in terms of tensile strength, physical
appearance and water resistance.

The researcher gathered enough information about the treatments of which is the
most effective treatment in terms of ways of drying, testing of tensile strength, water
resistance, and physical appearance. Treatment 1 is declared to be the most effective
treatment among all the treatments. Treatment 1 can withstand stretching until it
reaches 9 cm, it can handle water beyond 8 hours, the physical appearance just needs
couple of improvements.

After using the Single-factor ANOVA, this statistical tool revealed that there is no
significant difference among the treatments used in the study since the P-value is
0.381399 which is higher than the margin of error, 0.05.
CONCLUSION
The study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of potato starch as a
bioplastic. Based on the collected data, on tensile strength, water resistance, and the
texture and appearance, the most effective treatment is treatment 1. Single-factor
ANOVA showed that there is a significant difference between the treatments.

RECOMMENDATIONS

This study was conducted to prove the effectiveness of potato starch as a

bioplastic. The researcher recommends their product to future researchers who wish to
take on this study.

For the researchers who wish to conduct a study about bioplastic. The
researcher would like to recommend Potato (solanum tuberosum) starch as your main
ingredient, The researchers must also make the bioplastic thinner, find an alternative for
vinegar, and also make a better quality of the bioplastic.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researcher would like to extend her profound gratitude and appreciation to
her Father, Mother, sister-in-law and brother for the support. For providing finance
support for this study.
To Mrs. Josephine Verdeblanco, for approving and for considering my problem
with my research. For also teaching us and for being a great adviser towards us.
To Neil Humprey D. Licatan for helping her with her study and for providing
everlasting support and love and for being there for her whenever she needs him.
To Khaira Eliza E. Hermosura for being there for her.
To Svend Moulleniv Balbas, Shane Vincent Eslais and Genrou Josh
Catacutan for giving her ideas for her possible study which she will use.
To her classmates for letting her borrow gadgets such as their laptops just for
her to create her papers and for also making her connect to their data.
To Ms. Aiza Villacorte and kuya Ryan Alifante for considering her absence to
their class due to her busy schedules in school and research.
Most importantly to Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost for
guiding her throughout her journey.
REFERENCES
“The Chemistry of Bioplastics”. 2017 on

http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-bioplastics

“The many Faces of Bioplastics”. August 2013 on

https://www.cheminst.ca/magazine/article/the-many-faces-of-bioplastics/

Bertoft, Blennow. “Structure of potato starch”. 2016 on https://research.ku.dk/search/?

pure=en/publications/structure-of-potato-starch(7b6b485a-a9ce-4fce-bf7e-b443159fcaaf).html

Schon, Schwartz. “Production of Bioplastics” on https://research.ku.dk/search/?

pure=en/publications/structure-of-potato-starch(7b6b485a-a9ce-4fce-bf7e-b443159fcaaf).html

“Bioplastics: an important component of global sustainability”. September 2, 2011 on

https://www.carboncommentary.com/blog/2011/09/02/bioplastics-an-important-component-of-

global-sustainability