BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC FROM THE SHELLS OF ARACHIS HYPOGAEA (GROUNDNUT)

Varalakshmi V.*, Ponkalaivani S, Shajina K. and Sangeetha M.

ABSTRACT

In recent years the enormous study was focused on to overcome the pollution caused by plastics and also an akin alternative for plastic which should not risk the biomass. Mostly starch and cellulose-based plastics are chemically modified using plasticizer where it has a high impact on biodiversity as well as expensive. But our study indicates the extraction of cellulose from natural waste (Shells of Arachis hypogaea) and reinforced with moringa resin as a natural binder compressed to form plates and cups which were coated with beeswax. The mould was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard testing for plastic. The mould is shown to be readily degraded within 7-10 days under controlled soil condition. The mould framed can be used for food packaging industries which would reduce half a chance of pollution caused by dumping the petroleum-based synthetic polymers in agricultural lands and oceans. These biodegradable polymers serve as a promising alternative due to its unique quality of economical and high biodegradability rate.

Keywords: Cellulose; Resin; Mould; SEM; TGA; Biodegradable Plastic; Biopolymer.