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ABSTRACT
Due to the toxic and non-biodegradable characteristics of petroleum-based plastics linked to issues with environmental pollution, starch-based plastics are seen as a better alternative because they are affordable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly for all applications. The primary objective of this study was to prepare composite bioplastic film using cocoyam starch and hydroxyapatite (HAp) templated with hippuric acid. The project started with the isolation of starch from cocoyam (red specie - Xanthosoma sagittifolium) followed by the synthesis of the templated hydroxyapatite. The templated hydroxyapatites in different gram ratios (0.2, 0.6, 1.0) were then combined with the cocoyam starch, glycerol and PVA in a constant ratio of (2:1:1.5) g respectively with 100 mL of water to produce the bioplastic films. The produced films were characterized by mechanical test, thickness measurement, antimicrobial test and water vapor permeability. The results showed that the thickness of the films ranged from 0.11mm- 0.08mm following the increase of the HAp mass from 0.2g-1.0g. The results of the mechanical test showed increasing tensile strength (0.0794, 0.1160 and 0.1200) kg/mm2 and decreasing elongation at break (26, 25, and 24) % as the mass of the HAp increased. The antimicrobial test for bacteria showed no zone of inhibitions for Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. Similar results were observed for the fungal isolates (Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp. and Mucor mucedo). The water vapor permeability calculated varied from (0.36 to 0.27) g/mmhr for the film with 0.2g HAp. The result of this study of cocoyam starch-based composite films reinforced with HA-HA will contribute to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging materials, which can replace conventional petroleumbased plastics.
