Valoración del almidón de la cáscara de Arracacia xanthorrhiza (zanahoria blanca) para la obtención de plástico biodegradable

Abstract

The aim of this research was to carry out the valuation of starch made from Arracacia Xanthorrhiza white carrot peel to obtain bioplastics; thus, the extraction of starch from white carrot waste was carried out through a wet process with a yield of 11.14%. In addition, the physical, physicochemical and chemical characteristics of the starch were determined; then, it was possible to establish the combinations of additives, such as the optimum percentage of graphene oxide, which stabilized the irregular polymers found in the starch. The bioplastics obtained were put under physical and mechanical tests, where a thickness of 0.1 mm, a solubility in the range of 40 - 52% and a biodegradability in water of 49% were obtained. The compostability of bioplastics was determined according to the INEN (Ecuadorian Institute of Normalization) 2643 standard. Then, it was necessary to use the INEN 2635 standard for evaluating both, mechanical and physical tests. Finally, it was concluded that the best treatment for the plastic sheets was treatment D, because the maximum load, maximum displacement, deformation, and load breakage variables are very similar in all combinations with graphene oxide and they do not differ in the repetition values of the experimental units, as well as the maximum effort defined by the treatment with the best characteristics and a value of 0. 90 Megapascal (MPa), these characteristics were acceptable in relation to the percentage of amylose present in white carrot. It is recommended to look for alternatives to improve the quality of bioplastics through new combinations with chemical compounds, which increase the quality of the biofilm characteristics.