Environmental properties of biodegradable packaging tray from coconut leaf

Shamsudin, Shamsu Hazmirull (2022) Environmental properties of biodegradable packaging tray from coconut leaf. Project Report. Melaka, Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka. (Submitted)

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Abstract

In recent, the demand for biodegradable materials has become a significant challenge due to the accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic waste. Among several biodegradable materials, thermoplastic cassava starch has been identified as the renewable, biodegradable, also has low-cost resources. However, thermoplastic cassava starch has some drawback such as poor dimensional stability due to highly hydrophilic character. Meanwhile, extensive fall of coconut trees has resulted in waste since only certain parts of the coconut tree were utilised, while other part such as the leaf were often discarded as waste. Hence, the aim of this study is to utilised the coconut leaf in the development of a biodegradable packaging from thermoplastic cassava starch reinforced with coconut leaf fibre. In this study, coconut leaf fibre will be used to enhance the shortcomings of cassava starch biopolymer in various fiber content i.e 0 wt%, 10wt%, 20wt%, 30wt% and 40wt% . The effect of coconut leaf fibre on the environmental, water affinity, and morphological properties will be investigated. All of the materials were blended together uniformly before being manufactured by utilizing hot compression moulding.Following that, the properties of TPCS/coconut leaf fibre biopolymer composites were investigated in order to assess their potential as biodegradable reinforcements. The finding shows that the highest percentage of fibre at 40wt% shows the the lowest moisture content which idicates indicates improvement in the stability of the materials. The incorporation of coconut leaf fiber was found to decrease the water absorption and thickness swelling of the composite. In terms of water solubility, it was discovered that the weight reduction decreases as the fibre content increases. Meanwhile, biodegradation was determined by the soil burial and results show decreased weight loss after increased loading of coconut leaf fiber in the polymeric matrix. According to the FTIR analysis, the result demonstrates the presence of bonding between the fiber and TPCS, while the SEM demonstrates the changing microstructure of the composite as the fibre concentration increases which is the appearance of more coconut leaf fibre and void on the surface. In term of development of packaging product, composite with fiber content of 20% was used. The product developed has length of 13 cm, thickness 0.3 cm and width of 8cm. Generally, the product was successfully developed and functioning as a tray. In conclusion, TPCS/coconut leaf fibre biopolymer composites have shown improved properties in terms of lower water affinity behavior and better dimensional stability compare to the TPCS matrix. This material has a wide range of potential particularly in packaging applications.Therefore, this material can become an alternative for non-biodegradable bioplastic in the future and the natural waste can be fully utilized.

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