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CHAPTER I

Introduction

Research is essential in the development of man’s life.

According to Kerlinger (1973) it was derive from the word

“recercher” which means “to search”. Adeva (1974) defines

research as a fresh inquiry into seeking for something new

and perhaps better. Modern generation discovery of plastic

has an essential in human’s everyday life. We can see and

use plastic wares in kitchen, household appliances,

technological gadget and even personal things. These things

imply one thing, and that is – plastic has a great

influence in our everyday way of living. Added to that

plastic has also several advantages. For one reason, plastic and

non biodegradable materials are can’t be decompose, which make

it as a contributor to pollution. The chloro-floro carbon (CFC)

emission from it destroy the earth’s ozone layer (the part

or the region of stratosphere that protects organism on

earth)- which cause hazardous effect to man’s health. This

problem has let the researchers pursue in finding means to

lessen the problem met by our environment. One relevant solution

is the plastic from taro (colocasia esculenta), an aroid plant

cultivated in the tropics. The starch that comes out from this
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plant is ready as an alternative plastic. The United State has

already started the use of cornstarch as an additive or

biodegradable plastic to decomposed it easily. Taro (colocasia

esculenta) is primarily composed of carbohydrates and protein.

Roots from wetland taro are heated to removed the bitter taste

and presented into an edible paste called poi. This results

and makes the plastic easily decomposed. The starch is

composed of amylase and amylopectin. Since starch is the main

ingredients of plastic, the researcher were prompted to produce

biodegradable plastic from taro (colocasia esculenta).

A. Background of the Study

Starch is a natural organic polymer manufactured by

green plants through photosynthesis. Starch has 2

components, which is the amylase and amylopectin. Amylase

is a long straight chain of polymer as an hydro glucose

units. Taro (colocasia esculenta) a rich in carbohydrates

and can be made into starch. Because plastic are made of

polymers, starch is very favorable raw materials in

plastic making.

B. Statement of the problem

The research aims to find out if taro (colocasia

esculenta) starch can be basic ingredient in making


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Biodegradable plastics specifically it aims to answer

the following question:

1. Is there such thing as biodegradable plastics?

2. What kind of biodegradable plastics be produced out of

taro (colocasia esculenta)?

3. Is there a significance difference in varying the

proportion of taro(colocasia esculenta), in terms of

flammability, texture, and reaction to acid in

biodegradability test?

4. Which of the treatment can produced quality

biodegradable plastics in terms of flammability,

texture, and reaction to acid in biodegradability

test?

C. Hypothesis

Based on the problem presented, this investigation

advanced the following hypotheses:

1. There is no significant effect made by the varied

proportion of taro in making of biodegradable plastics.

2. There is no significant difference among the

produced biodegradable plastics in terms of

flammability, texture, and reaction to acid in


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biodegradability test.

D. Significance of the Study

Plastic is now on high demand. Since plastic is

non-biodegradable, it has contributed pollution both

land and water, by not allowing the water to flow in

canals or drainage. However, this study aims to produce

biodegradable plastics from taro (colocasia esculenta) starch.

The purpose of which is t produced biodegradable plastics not

detrimental to our environment.

E. Scope and Delimitation

This study is limited in the used of taro (colocasia

esculenta) starch variety in 3 treatments was made to

produce biodegradable plastic from taro starch. There are

three(3) trials (A,B,C).

Treatment A- (Trial 1) 50g starch, 50g water, 7g soya bean

oil, 30g glycerol

(Trial 2) 50g starch, 50g water, 7g soya bean oil, 30g

glycerol

(Trial 3) 50g starch, 50g water, 7g soya bean oil, 30g

glycerol

Treatment B-(Trial 1) 65g starch, 50g water, 7g soya bean oil,

30g glycerol
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(Trial 2) 65g starch, 50g water, 7g soya bean oil, 30g

glycerol

(Trial 3) 65g starch, 50g water, 7g soya bean oil, 30g

glycerol

Treatment C-(Trial 1) 80g starch, 50g water, 7g soya bean oil,

30g glycerol

(Trial 2) 80g starch, 50g water, 7g soya bean oil, 30g

glycerol

(Trial 3) 80g starch, 50g water, 7g soya bean oil, 30g

30g glycerol

F. Definition of Terms

Amylopectin- is a branch of chain compound, also of

any hydroglucose units.

Amylase- is a long straight chain of polymer of any

hydroglucose.

Glycerol- a sweet, viscous, hygroscopic alcohol occurs

naturally in combine forms as glycerides,

and is a recovered in the manufacture of

soaps from facts. It is an important

industrial chemical used chiefly as

solvent, as lubricant and as raw materials

for manufacture of nitroglycerin.


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Plastic- the word plastic came from the Greek word

plastikas, which means “capable of being

molded”.

Water- the transparent, colorless liquid, which

falls from the sky as rain, issues from the

grounds in springs, and composes of 3

quarters of the earth’s surface in the form

of seas, rivers, lakes, etc.


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