MANUFACTURING BIOPLASTIC FROM CASSAVA TUBERS (MANIHOT ESCULENTA) WITH ZnO and CHITOSAN FILLER_ Muhammad Fauzan2

Abstract

Bioplastics have properties that can be decomposed by microorganisms naturally into environmentally friendly compounds. The main ingredients of bioplastics are starch, plasticizers and reinforcing materials. Cassava tubers have a high amylopectin content so that they have the potential to be used as basic materials for bioplastics. This research was conducted at the Chemical Industrial Process Laboratory with the aim of knowing the comparison of the addition of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Chitosan fillers to plastic quality. This study uses the Melt Intercalation method. In melt intercalation, the manufacture of bioplastics is done by mixing filler and plasticiezer with the aim of strengthening the material. In this study using glycerol as a plasticizer. Observations include chemical and physical properties of bioplastics such as tensile tests, elongation tests, and biodegradability tests. The results showed that filler addition had an effect on tensile strength and elongation as well as biodegradation of bioplastics. For ZnO filler has the value of elongation, tensile strength and biodegradation (1.46 - 7% - 7 days) and for Chitosan (1.44 – 2% – 12 days).