Atasi Sampah Plastik dengan Bioplastik Berbahan Organik
Atasi Sampah Plastik dengan Bioplastik Berbahan Organik
Atasi Sampah Plastik dengan Bioplastik Berbahan Organik
Atasi Sampah Plastik dengan Bioplastik Berbahan Organik
Plastic waste poses a serious problem to the environment due to its non-degradable nature. Various losses caused by this matter include the loss of soil nutrient, land becoming infertile as well as water unable to flow freely underground that may lead to flooding and drought.
"Unfortunately, most of the people are not yet aware of the plastic waste issue, hence the problem seems to be ignored,” said Fajar Bayu Prakoso, Chemical Engineering student of Universitas Gadjah Mada at UGM on Monday (28/9). He then offered a solution by making bioplastic or environmentally friendly plastic that is degradable. It uses organic materials.
"We the Bioplastic UGM students team were researching on bioplastic making by mixing synthetic plastic Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) with organic matter, which is starch made from the seeds of durian fruit,” he said.
Fajar Bayu said they chose the durian fruit as the seed contains high starch even higher than that in other sources of starch, or 47,6 percent compared to that in jackfruit 36,7 percent, and cassava 37,6 percent. They also make use of waste as durian seeds are mostly thrown to the bin.
"We make bioplastic by soaking the durian seeds in lime water to get rid of the sap. Then it is dried and peeled,” said Fajar Bayu, who is accompanied by Andika Cahya Widyananda, Adiyat, Annisa Fakhriya Rofi, and Dyah Ayu Permatasi, all students of Chemical Engineering Universitas Gadjah Mada.
The seed is then ground and sifted into fine powder. Afterwards, LDPE synthetic plastic is blended with the powder at a high temperature (1600°C) and pressed until a certain thickness to become bioplastic samples.
"We had tested this sample to know the bioplastic quality, and it proved good,” he explained.
Their research and testing proved that the bioplastic has the capacity that already meets the standard of synthetic plastic. It has also passed the biodegradability test.
"On this occassion we would like to thank Prof. Ir. Rochmadi, SU., Ph.D, who has provided supervision and guidance to use at the Polymer Lab of Chemical Engineering department,” he said.
Fajar Bayu added the team would present their work at the 28th National Students Week at Universitas Halu Oleo in Kendari from 5-9 October 2015.