Production of Starch-Based Bioplastic from the Mixture of Potato and Cassava Peel Wastes Starch Using Glycerol as Plasticizers: A Comparison on the Effect of CaCO3 and HCl as Fillers

This study investigates the production of starch-based bioplastics from the mixture of potato and cassava peel waste starch using glycerol as plasticizer (20% wt/v) and comparing reinforcement with calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid (4% wt/wt of filler to starch). The potato and cassava peel starch used in the production of the bioplastics were at a ratio of 3:1, 1 1, and 1:3 (wt/wt)), whereas the pure starches of the potato and cassava peel were studied as control. The physical appearance, density, water uptake, and tensile strength of the bioplastics produced were determined. The findings suggest that amongst all the bioplastics produced, hydrochloric acid as a filler exhibited the lowest water uptake compared to CaCO3 , while CaCO3 enhances density and tensile strength. This study, for the first time, established that the properties of bioplastics produced from pure potato and cassava peel starches could be enhanced by mixing the potato and cassava peel starch at the ratio of 3:1 (wt/wt). The bioplastic produced from the mixture of potato and cassava peel starchs at the ratio of 3:1 (wt/wt) exhibited the highest density (1.4 g/cm3) and tensile strength (38 Mpa) with CaCO3 reinforcement as compared to HCl, which has a density of 1 g/cm3 and tensile strength of 18 Mpa. On the contrary, HCl favors the reduction of water uptake (18.4 %) than CaCO3 (34%).