PRODUCTION of cellulose bioplastics derived from bamboo (Bamb Usa Vulgaris)

• Main Author: Ahmad, Nur Ayuni
• Format: Undergraduate Final Project Report
• Published: 2020
• Online Access: http://discol.umk.edu.my/id/eprint/4095/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Kelantan

This study summarized the research on the production of cellulose bioplastics from bamboo (Barnbusa vulgaris). Cellulose from bamboo were a good renewable material for the substitution of the conventional polymer for the production of plastics. In this research work, bamboo were treated by using Kraft methods and alkali treatment to obtain the cellulose. PLA acts as matrix while PBAT acts as plasticizer and cellulose acts as filler in the production of bioplastics. The determination for the functional group in this bioplastics was carried out by using FTIR. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of different percentage of cellulose bioplastics were determined by using tensile strength test. Sample of PLA/PBAT/cellulose bioplastics with the cellulose content 0% and 3% showed the excellent results for tensile strength which the value are 11.052 N/mm2 and 9.591 N/mm2, while the sample of cellulose 9% showed poor result in tensile strength which the value are 0.564 N/mm2 (PLA/cellulose) and 2.038 N/mm2 (PLA/PBAT/cellulose). This indicates that the increased in the cellulose content caused the reduction in the tensile strength due to the excessive fiber density in the bioplastics. On the other hand, the water absorption properties of the bioplastics were determined by using water absorption test. Sample with cellulose 9% absorbed the highest amount of water with 5.991% (PLA/cellulose) and 12.69% (PLA/PBAT/cellulose) of the total water absorption. The percentage of water absorption increased as the cellulose increased. In addition, the biodegradability of the bioplastics was determined by using biodegradation test. Sample with cellulose 9% showed the greater mass loss compared to the other samples. However, samples with 3% of cellulose also showed the ability to decompose rapidly with the total mass loss of 3.28% (PLAJcellulose) and 2.07% (PLA/PBAT/cellulose). This indicates as the cellulose content increased, the decomposition of bioplastics is also increased. As a conclusion, sample with 3% of cellulose content exhibits an excellent properties of bioplastics due to the high tensile strength, good water resistance and fast biodegradation.