PRODUCTION OF BIOFILM FROM CASSAVA STARCH FOR POSSIBLE USE IN GARBAGE COLLECTION
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an important crop, which grows in tropics and sub-tropics regions and is the main source of carbohydrates and primary food staple that feeds millions of humans. Cassava starch can form an excellent film; thus, it can be used to produce biodegradable polymers, which can be used to replace plastics. This study is aimed at producing biofilm from cassava starch for possible use in garbage collection. Fresh cassava was purchased from Abakpa Market in Enugu, Nigeria. Starch was identified, extracted from cassava, and used to produce a starch-based biofilm and a control film without starch. Characterization of biofilm such as tensile strength, elongation at break, shear strength, toughness, thickness, and hardness were performed on both the starch biofilm and control, alongside the foil and nylon type conventional materials. The results showed that the starch biofilm (285.53±3.26 N/mm²) and control (35.00 ± 0.00 N/mm²) attained less maximum stress, when compared to nylon (513.33±0.01 N/mm²) and foil (470.00±0.00 N/mm²), with nylon being significantly higher (p
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