Exploring banana peels as a renewable source for bioplastic development

Abstract

The present study was to develop bioplastic from banana peels and characteristic its physical properties. The biofilm was prepared from banana peels by casting method using glycerol (10%) as a plasticizer and corn starch as co-biopolymer. The bioplastic with 8% corn starch (T4) showed the highest tensile strength (0.388 MPa), while the bioplastic with 10% corn starch (T5) had the highest water solubility and best water vapor transmission rate. The films' biodegradability, measured by carbon dioxide evolution, showed a gradual increase from day 7 to day 90. The highest tensile strength (0.388 MPa), elongation (9.77%), maximum load (2.48 N), and strong biodegradability, along with intermediate solubility (34.12%) and thickness (0.56 mm). increasing corn starch concentrations positively influenced the water vapor transmission rate. This research highlights the potential to transformation of banana peels into eco-friendly, value-added bioplastics.