Synthesis and Bio Degradation of Bio-Plastic Prepared from Corn and Potato Starch

Abstract

Plastic today is derived from petrochemicals which are produced from fossil gas and oil. The widespread presence of plastic and plastic particles in the environment has deleterious and profound effects on the living organisms. The enormous amount of plastic has been accumulated in open oceans, terrestrial environment, on shore lines and even deep sea. It has been persisting in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years and posing a serious threat to wild life and marine organisms by chocking and releasing toxic chemicals. Plastic is hard to degrade due to its structure and its derivation from sources like fossil fuels.  In the present study, bio-plastic is being prepared using starch which was extracted from raw potatoes and commercially available corn starch. The starch is mixed with acetic acid and propane 1,2,3-triol to prepare bio- plastic. The use of the bio-plastic is an effective alternative as it is biodegradable by the environmental microorganisms. Microorganisms such as species of bacillus are found to degrade bio-plastic naturally. Bacillus is a gram positive, rod shaped common bacteria present in the soil. Findings conclude that bio-plastic can easily be prepared and environmentally present organisms can degrade it.

Keywords: Bio-plastic, Bacillus, Starch, acetic acid, Propane 123-triol, microorganisms

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-6-08

Publication date:March 31^st 2019