Utilization of starch and glucomannan as an environmentally friendly bioplastic composite raw material

Indonesia is the second largest plastic waste disposal country in the world after the People's Republic of China (PRC), with consumption reaching 17 kg per capita per year with an increase of 6-7%. Disposal of plastic waste in Indonesia reached 187.2 million tons while the PRC reached 262.9 million tons. This condition causes environmental problems due to plastic waste which is difficult to decompose by microorganisms, so that it can last for a long time as a pollutant. In addition, another disadvantage is that this plastic is made from non-renewable mineral materials and its availability is decreasing. To overcome these problems, bio-plastic are developed, namely plastics that are easily decomposed by microorganisms and the availability of renewable raw materials. The development of bio-plastic materials using renewable natural materials is expected to overcome environmental pollution. Renewable natural materials that can be used as bio-plastic materials include cassava starch, glucomannan, cellulose, lignin from plants, while from animals such as casein, chitin and chitosan and so forth.

Starch from cassava and glucomannan from porang tubers has great potential to be used as a bio-plastic material. Manufacture of starch or glucomannan bio-plastics independently has been widely developed, but the resulting bio-plastic characteristics still have weaknesses. Therefore, the development of both materials to form bio-plastic composites is feasible and has been tested. The results of several studies that have been carried out show better characteristics than starch or glucomannan bio-plastics that are made separately. Bio-plastic composites that are formed can be degraded within 7 days making it environmentally friendly.