Computer-aided approach for the development and characterisation of bioplastics from potato peel incorporated with rice husk

ABSTRACT
This research was conducted to develop a bioplastic with starch from sweet potato peel incorporated with silica from rice husk as reinforcement filler. Rice husk and sweet potato peel are agricultural waste that has a high potential and economic interest. Therefore, the utilization of these materials will provide substantial improvement towards waste reduction. A total of 18 formulations were generated by Design Expert Software using central composite design as a response surface methodology to determine the best formulation to develop the bioplastic. The optimum formulation was based on ratio of silica, volume of glycerol and volume poured into petri dish to obtain optimum thickness, density, and moisture content of bioplastic. The optimum formulation that was selected using numerical optimization exhibit a combined value of desirability (73.72 %). The value of data means for thickness was 1.96466 while density and moisture content were 0.22217 and 31.0667 respectively. Furthermore, thermo gravimetric analysis was conducted to examine the thermal properties and stability of the optimum silica in starch-based bioplastic. The findings from the studies showed that the optimum formulation of bioplastic was succesfully obtained and the incorporation of silica from RHA as reinforcing filler successfully has improved the thermal resistance. The starch/silica bioplastic degraded completely at 340 °C showed signifcant different between starch bioplastic without fillers that degrades at 330 °C. Higher content of silica gave a better thermal stability towards the bioplastic.