Biodegradable Multipurpose Plastic Made from Nata de Coco

FOUNTAIN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
turn this …………………..
into this………………….…
using this………………….
to save……………………
The Feasibility Study
Of Using Nata de Coco As
Material for Biodegradable Plastic
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
I. Introduction
A. Problem
A. Rationale
A. Hypothesis
II. Background of the Study
A. Plastics
A. Nata de Coco
III. Materials and Procedure
V. Result
VI. Discussion
VII. Conclusion
VIII. Recommendation
IX. References
Abstract
Every year, around 500 billion plastic bags are used
worldwide. These plastic bags are synthetic, which means they
are not broken down easily and tend to accumulate in the
environment and cause serious litter problem. Plastic bags are
a true menace to our ecosystems and our waste diversion
goals. Once discarded, they either enter our landfills or our
marine ecosystem.
Being synthetic, plastics do not decompose easily, causing them to be
major land and water pollutants. This study focused on the feasibility of using
Nata de coco, jelly-like fermented coconut water by Acetobacter xylinus, a
microbial cellulose, in the production of biodegradable plastic sheet. This will
eventually help in lessening or removing synthetic waste. Three types of
plastic sheets were made and tested; sheets A, B, and C. The sample were
soak in a mixture of alum and calamansi extract, then sundry A for 40 hours,
setup B for 50 hours ad setup C for 60 hours. Prepared samples were tested
for characteristics such as resistivity, clarity, flammability, strength and
biodegradability. Commercial plastics labeled as setup D were also utilized as
a control setup.
Based on the experiment, it is possible to make a plastic from Nata
de coco. As confirmed by the different test there is no significant
difference between the best made proportion of Nata de coco plastic
sheet, setup C, and the commercially available plastic, setup D except
in the resistivity test. Setup C is less clear than D which is good for
opaque packaging. It is also less flammable and stronger as shown in
the result of the flammability and tensile strength tests. It is also
degradable, lessening the volume of litter.
1 Introduction
1.1 Objective
To create biodegradable plastic out of Nata de coco
To test the feasibility of making plastic out of Nata de coco
1.2 Problem
This study aims to study and test the feasibility of using Nata de coco as an
alternative source of biodegradable plastic?
1.2 Hypothesis
The use of Nata de coco as a source of biodegradable plastic is feasible that we can
use our product in making plastic bag or containers for bottle water and other liquid
drinks.
1.4 Rationale
This research aim to study and test the feasibility of using Nata de
coco as an alternative source of plastic material. Plastic is the common
pollutants and they cannot decomposed easily. This will eventually help
in lessening or removing synthetic waste. Nata de coco can be used as
an alternative material for making plastic just like real plastic instead of
throwing garbage and litter. In Philippines, many of the lakes and rivers,
if not all, are polluted with trash. This causes clogging and in turn floods.
Trash not only heavily affects the Philippines, but other countries as well
like India, America and Mexico.
2 Background Study
Every year, around 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. These
plastic bags are synthetic, which means they are not broken down easily and
tend to accumulate in the environment and cause serious litter problem.
Plastic bags are a true menace to our ecosystems and our waste diversion
goals. Once discarded, they either enter our landfills or our marine
ecosystem. At least 267 species have been scientifically documented to be
adversely affected by plastic marine debris. Plastic bags are considered
especially dangerous to sea turtles, who may mistake them for jellyfish, a
main food source. Sea turtles act as grazing animals that cut the grass short
and help maintain the health of the sea grass beds. Over the past decades,
there has been a decline in sea grass beds. This decline may be linked to the
lower numbers of sea turtles.
Sea grass beds are important because they provide breeding and developmental
grounds for many species of fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Without sea grass beds,
many marine species humans harvest would be lost, as would the lower levels of the
food chain. The reactions could result in many more marine species being lost and
eventually impacting humans. So if sea turtles go extinct, there would be a serious
decline in sea grass beds and a decline in all the other species dependent upon the
grass beds for survival. All parts of an ecosystem are important, if you lose one, the
rest will eventually follow.
Since Philippines is the largest coconut-producing in the world (330 million
Filipinos are coconut farmers), more coconut products should be developed. One of
these is Nata de coco. According to wikipedia.org
Nata de coco is a chewy, translucent, jelly-like foodstuff produced by the
fermentation of coconut water, which gels through the production of
microbial cellulose by Acetobacter xylinum. Originating in the Philippines,
Nata de coco is most commonly sweetened as a candy or dessert, and can
accompany many things including pickles, drinks, ice cream, puddings and
fruit mixes.
Commercial nata de coco is made by small farms in Thailand, Malaysia,
the Philippines and Indonesia, especially in the Special Region of
Yogyakarta. In the former, it is commonly sold in jars.
The primarily coconut water dessert is produced through a series of steps:
Extraction of coconut water
Fermentation of the coconut water with bacterial cultures
Separating and cutting the produced mat of nata de coco
Cleaning and washing off the acetic acid
Cutting and packaging
Related Study
A study investigated on the Starch-Based Biodegradable Plastics. Research on starchbased biodegradable plastics began in the 1970's and continues today at the National
Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria, IL. Technology has been
developed for producing extrusion blown films and injection molded articles containing
50% and more of starch. Extrusion processing of compositions containing starch and
other natural polymers to provide totally biodegradable plastics is being investigated.
Starch grafted with thermoplastic side chains is under commercial development to
provide injection molded items with a broad range of compositions and properties. The
mechanism of biological degradation and the rate and extent of biodegradation of starch
containing plastics in various environments is studied to enhance development and
acceptance of biodegradable plastics.
Another study was conducted in The University of Queensland making use of Plantic’s
clean technology as raw material in organic plastic manufacturing. Plantic’s plastic is
different. Developed at UQ’s School of
Chemical Engineering by a team led by Professor Peter Halley, this plastic is produced using
patented technology that turns corn starch-based formulations into flat plastic sheets that
can then be moulded into biodegradable trays.
In recent study in Brazil: They use range peels could as their material to make a
biodegradable plastic. The technique works by focusing high-powered microwaves on plantbased material, transforming the tough cellulose molecules of the plant matter into volatile
gases. Those gases are then distilled into a liquid that researchers say can be used to make
plastic. The process works at 90 percent efficiency, and it can be used on a variety of plant
waste beyond orange peels.
Researchers at the University of Antioquia produce Biopolymers made from agroindustrial wastes of banana and cassava play as a material for the production of
biodegradable plastics. Biopolymers, which are polymers produced by bacteria found
in agro-industrial wastes of banana and cassava, have proved useful for the
production of absorbable suture materials Polymer sutures provide greater tissue
compatibility since they are of biological origin, and can be readily absorbed by the
human body. The study conducted by Professor Mariana Cardona of the Department
of Microbiology at the University of Antioquia has succeeded in using Ralstonia
eutropha bacteria to convert plant waste into biopolymers. The project also intends
to process other substances such as stillage and ethanol waste as well as producing
biopolymers from biodiesel waste.
3 Materials
 Nata de coco
 Calamansi extract
 Potash alum
 3 pcs - 800 ml beaker
 Alcohol lamp
 Crucible tong
 Multitester
 Weighing scale
 Filter Paper
 Shovel
 Soil
 Knife
Procedures
4.1 Preparation of samples
A.Prepare three equal samples of nata de coco. Label each setups A, B and C for Nata
de coco.
B. Soak the Nata de coco samples in a mixture of alum, calamansi extract and water
overnight.
C. Sundry setup A for 40 hours, setup B for 50 hours ad setup C for 60 hours.
D. Prepared samples will be tested for characteristics such as resistivity, clarity,
flammability, strength and biodegradability.
E. Commercial plastics labeled as setup D will also undergo the same test and will be
compared to the samples from setups A, B and C.
Figure 1: Materials
Figure 2: Drying the samples
4.2 Resistivity Test
Analyze samples from setups A, B and C with
the use of a multimeter. Perform three trials
for each sample.
Figure 3: Performing the resistivity test
4.3 Clarity Test
Each nata sheets from setups A, B and C will be rated by ten
selected students on a scale of 1 to 5, in which 1 being the lowest
value and 5 being the highest. The following questions will be
considered in rating the samples.
• Are the samples transparent, translucent or opaque?
Can light pass through the samples?
4.4 Flammability Test
Place samples from setups A, B, C and D in watch glass and
ignite each sample. Perform three trials for each sample. Record
the time it took for each samples to burn.
Figure 4: Performing the flammability test
4.5 Tensile Strength Test
Using two spring balances, hook it 1 inch away from the nonadjacent edges of the nata sheet in
each setups. Perform three trials in each samples.
4.6 Biodegradability Test
Prepare the Nata sheets from each setup. Record the mass of each sample. Put each sample 7
inches below the ground in different holes. Dug out the samples after 10 days and record their
masses.
Figure 5: Performing the Biodegradability test
5 Results
5.1 Resistivity Test
Table A below shows the results of the resistivity test conducted in each Nata sheet samples.
Table A. Comparison of electrical resistivity of Nata sheets from setups A, B and C in ohms (Ω)
Trial
Setup
Setup
Setup
A
B
C
1
1100
2000
2500
2
1300
1000
3000
3
1200
3000
3500
5.2 Clarity Test
Table B below shows the result of the rating done by the ten students on the nata sheets
and commercially available plastic.
Table B. Comparison of the clarity rating of setups A, B, C and D
Respondents
A
B
C
D
1
3
5
4
5
2
2
3
5
5
3
3
3
4
5
4
3
3
2
5
5
2
5
3
5
6
3
3
5
5
7
2
3
4
5
8
3
5
4
5
9
3
4
5
5
10
3
3
5
5
5.3 Flammability Test
Table C below shows the result on the flammability test conducted in each nata samples.
Table C. Comparison of the flammability rate of setups A, B, C and D in seconds
(sec)
Trial
Setup A
Setup B
Setup C
Setup D
1
45
27
48
4
2
58
48
83
4
3
45
51
81
5
5.4 Tensile Strength Test
Table D below shows the comparison of the tensile strength test conducted in nata samples from
each setups.
Table D. Comparison of the tensile strength of setups A, B, C and D in Newton (N)
Trial
Setup A
Setup B
Setup C
Setup D
1
3.2
3.5
6.1
3.1
2
3.1
4.0
6.3
2.9
3
3.6
3.6
6.2
3.0
5.5 Biodegradability Test
Table E below shows the masses of the samples before the biodegradability test while table F
shows the results in the change in mass of the samples after it was placed for 10 days below the
ground.
Table E. Comparison of the masses before the biodegradability test of setups A, B,
C and D in grams (g)
Trial
Setup A
Setup B
Setup C
Setup D
1
2.1
1.5
1.45
3
2
2
2.2
1.5
3
3
2
1.7
1.5
3
Table F. Comparison of the change in mass of setups A, B, C and D in grams (g)
Trial
Setup A
X1
X2
Setup B
(X1 – X2)
X1
X2
Setup C
(X1 – X2)
X1
X2
Setup D
(X1 – X2)
X1
X2
(X1 – X2)
1
2.1
1
1.1
1.5
0
1.55
1.45
0
1.45
3
3
0
2
2
1
1
2.2
1.8
0.4
1.5
0
1.5
3
3
0
3
2
1.1
0.9
1.7
0
1.7
1.5
0
1.5
3
3
0
6 Discussions
A. Resistivity Test
Setup C exhibited electrical resistance with the mean value of
3000 Ω. Commercially available plastic D has the electrical resistance of ∞. It means
commercially available plastic is still the better insulator compared to the product.
B. Clarity Test
Based on the results, setup C sample exhibited the characteristic which is similar to that of setup
D which is good for packaging purposes.
C. Flammability Test
Based on the results shown in table C, the nata sheet samples are less flammable compared to
commercially available plastics.
D. Tensile Strength Test
Based on the results shown in table D. Setup C exhibited characteristics of a good material that
can withstand stress before breaking. It got better outcome as compared to the commercially
available plastic.
E. Biodegradability Test
Based on the results presented in table F, the nata sheet samples are degradable as shown in the changes
in mass of each sample.
7 Conclusions
Based on the properties that a plastic possesses, it is possible
to make a plastic from Nata de coco. As confirmed by the
different test there is no significant difference between the
best made proportion of Nata de coco plastic sheet, setup C,
and the commercially available plastic, setup D except in the
resistivity test. Setup C is less clear than D which is good for
opaque packaging. It is also less flammable and stronger as
shown in the result of the flammability and tensile strength
tests. It is also degradable, lessening the volume of litter.
8 Recommendations
Based on the result of our experiment we then recommend the
following:
1. Research additional test to confirm the feasibility of using
Nata de coco as an alternative material for plastic.
2. Make a plastic bag from prepared Nata de coco
3. Use another coconut based product as a starting material
for plastic.
9 References
Research:
• USDA Research on Starch-Based Biodegradable Plastics by William M. Doane Ph.D
• Orange peels could be made into biodegradable plastic by Bryan Nelson
• Biopolymers by Professor Mariana Cardona of the Department of Microbiology at the
University of Antioquia
• The Effects of Flavonoids on heavy metals tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings by:
Keilig and Wig-Muller, 2009
Internet:
• http://www.uq.edu.au/research/research-at-uq/biodegradable-plastic
• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/star.
• http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/orange-peels-could-be-made-intobiodegradable-plastic bstract
• http://www.midmichiganspe.org/pdfs/documents/testing.pdf
• http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ie50322a010
• http://www.astm.org/STATQA/FlamPlas.htm
• http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/42317/metro-manila-produces-a-fourth-of-philippine
Book:
Guevarra, Beatrice, Q., et. al. 2004. A Guidebook to Plant Screening: Phytochemical and
Biological, Research Center for the Natural Sciences, University of Santo Thomas, Manila.