Department of Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering and Design

THE INFLUENCE OF EGGSHELLS AS FILLERS TO

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

Submitted to:
ENGR. LOUIE PIERRE O. EQUIO
Faculty of the Mechanical Engineering Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Silliman University

Submitted by:
ANG, TRINA DOMINIQUE
MENDOZA, JADE LINAE Y.
QUIMAT, KYLA MARIE E.
BS Mechanical Engineering-IV

Dumaguete City
December 2021
 CHAPTER I

Introduction

A. Background of the Study

Plastic is being used in different applications and has become an important part of our

society. Almost every sector in the world uses plastic - construction, textiles, consumer products,

transportation, electronics, and many more. According to the British Plastics Federation, most

patents filed in the UK are related to plastic-based innovations (n.d.). This is because of its

lightweight characteristic, durability, and its adaptability to various shapes.

Plastic is a word that means “pliable and easily shaped.” It is a synthetic or semi-synthetic

material that is made up of cellulose, natural gas, salt, and crude oil. In the past century, industries

have learned how to make synthetic plastic using crude oil and other fossil fuels. In 1869, John

Wesley Hyatt synthesized the first plastic. This discovery was made as a substitute for natural

ivory that mostly came from elephants. Hyatt treated cellulose, from cotton fiber, with camphor to

make plastic. This discovery, in the past century, helped not only the people but also the

environment. However, the first fully synthetic plastic was not made until 1907 in which Leo

Baekeland invented Bakelite. This type of plastic contained no natural components. Made with

phenol and formaldehyde, Bakelite became a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical

insulator. It was durable, heat resistant, and ideal for mechanical mass production.

A surge in plastic production was seen during World War II as industries perceived plastic

to be important in the military sector. According to Susan Freinkel, in her book PLASTIC: A Toxic

Love Story, “In product after product, market after market, plastics challenged traditional materials

and won, taking the place of steel in cars, paper and glass in packaging, and wood in furniture,”

1
(2011). Unfortunately, the vision of a future with abundant material wealth, thanks to plastic, was

no longer seen as positive in the 19th century. Plastic debris was first observed in the 1960s, an

era in which society is becoming aware of environmental problems, and the persistence of plastic

wastes began to be troublesome. Plastic’s fame fell further in the ’70s and ’80s as more and more

people became more aware that plastic lasts forever in the environment. Despite the plastic

industry presenting recycling as a solution, most of it still ends up in landfills or scattered in the

environment. Moreover, scientists from The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization, said that

1.15 to 2.41 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, and more than half of these are less

dense than the water thus, it will not sink (2015). The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, one of the five

offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world located between Hawaii and California, is said to

have a surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, an area twice the size of Texas.

Despite the growing anxiety towards plastic and its wastes, it is still an essential component

in the modern world. Many of the products we depend on might not have been developed if it were

not for plastic. Since plastic cannot be fully removed from our lives, scientists and innovators have

been developing plastic made from renewable biomass such as vegetable oils and starches, plant

crops, and recycled food waste. This innovation is called Bioplastic. Since bioplastic is made from

plant-based products, these are sustainable, biodegradable, and biocompatible. Since the

emergence of bioplastic, petroleum consumption for plastic production is expected to decrease by

15 to 20 percent (%) in 2025 (Ashter, 2016).

Banana peel and rice starch were selected as the base for bioplastic production in this study

as both have properties that are comparable to synthetic plastics. In The Packaging Bulletin,

January 2009 issue, it is a proven fact that starch and cellulose are important raw materials in the

manufacture of bioplastic (Yusoff, Manimaran, et. al., 2016). In addition, eggshells are being used

2
as fillers since the calcium carbonate in the eggshell allows malleability, as seen during gestation

and birth in oviparous animals. Research done at Tuskegee University found that the inclusion of

eggshell nanoparticles into a mixture of polybutyrate adipate terephthalate, a petroleum product

used to make plastic bags, gave the product a higher elastic strength (Lee, 2016).

B. Statement of the Problem

About 300 million tons of plastic waste is produced every year and due to their hydrocarbon

chain, they normally take 500 to 1000 years to degrade. In addition, banana peel and eggshells are

also wastes that are accumulated due to their high demand and the population’s daily consumption.

Thus, there is a need to innovate and look for alternative ways to produce plastic and at the same

time help reduce food waste by repurposing. Moreover, one of the main problems that also need

to be addressed is the constant need for progress in improving materials such as bioplastics that

intend to be an alternative or a possible replacement for a material that is already highly developed

and widely used.

C. Hypothesis

The eggshells, as fillers, will have a significant contribution to the tensile strength, water

solubility, and biodegradability of the banana peel and rice starch bioplastic. The bioplastic with

eggshell fillers is hypothesized to be able to withstand greater tensile stress, will be more soluble

in water, and will decompose faster.

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D. Research Questions

● What is the average tensile strength of the banana peel rice starch bioplastic with

2.0 grams of eggshells filler, 2.5 grams of eggshell filler, and 3.0 grams of eggshell

filler?

● What is the average water solubility of the banana peel rice starch bioplastic with

2.0 grams of eggshells filler, 2.5 grams of eggshell filler, and 3.0 grams of eggshell

filler?

● What is the average biodegradability of the banana peel rice starch bioplastic with

2.0 grams of eggshells filler, 2.5 grams of eggshell filler, and 3.0 grams of eggshell

filler?

● What are the differences between the tensile strength, water solubility, and

biodegradability of the banana peel rice starch bioplastic with eggshell fillers and

without eggshell fillers?

● Which weight quantity in grams of eggshell filler has a greater effect on the tensile

strength, water solubility, and biodegradability of the banana peel rice starch

bioplastic, 2.0 g, 2.5 g, or 3.0 g?

● Do the eggshells as filler have a significant effect on the tensile strength, water

solubility, and biodegradability of the banana peel rice starch bioplastic?

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E. Objectives of the Study

General Objective

This study aims to determine the influence of eggshells as filler on the tensile

strength, water solubility, and biodegradability of banana peel rice starch bioplastic.

Specific Objectives

● To be able to identify the influence of eggshells as fillers on the tensile strength of

the banana peel rice starch bioplastic.

● To be able to identify the influence of eggshells as fillers on the water solubility of

the banana peel rice starch bioplastic.

● To be able to identify the influence of eggshells as fillers on the biodegradability of

the banana peel rice starch bioplastic.

F. Significance of the Study

Bioplastics are the constant point of research as it is the alternative for the widely used

material that is plastic. Plastic has already proven to be one of the biggest contaminants of the

environment and takes years to decompose. The significance of this study is to find solutions

to better the quality of bioplastic using materials that are common and are usually just discarded

or thrown away. This study aims to utilize eggshells as filler material to banana peel rice starch

bioplastic in targeting the improvement of tensile strength, water solubility, and

biodegradability of the material.

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G. Scope and Limitations

The scope of this study is testing eggshells as fillers to banana peel rice starch bioplastics.

The filler to be tested is limited only to eggshells, however, additives such as hydrochloric acid,

glycerol, and sodium hydroxide will be necessary to produce the bioplastic film. The standard tests

involved in this study is limited only to tensile strength test based on ASTM D638 which is the

standard test method for tensile properties of plastic, water solubility test based on MSTM-205

which is the standard test method for solubility of MonoSol water-soluble films when contained

within a plastic holder, and biodegradability test based on ASTM D5988-03 which is the standard

test method for determining aerobic biodegradation in soil of plastic materials or residual plastic

materials after composting. The trials of each testing will also be limited to 10 trials per test method

and 3 various weight quantities of eggshell fillers - 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 grams-will be used.

Furthermore, the bioplastic film’s dimensions will be based on the standard dimensions taken from

the standard test methods. Ten (10) specimens of a 6.5 x 0.75-inch strip will be made for the tensile

test method. Ten (10) specimens of a 1 x 3-inch strip will be made for the biodegradability test

method. Lastly, ten (10) specimens with dimensions of 1.5 x 1.3 inches will be produced for the

water solubility test.

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 CHAPTER II

Review Of Related Literature, Theoretical Framework, and Conceptual Framework

A. Related Works

Plastics have become an essential material to the everyday lives of humans. With its

properties, it has become a versatile material that can be used in different industries. As the

world advances, the plastic industry has also continued to grow thus, the increase in production.

(Thompson, et. al, 2009) Over the previous years, the world’s plastic production has been

gradually growing with around 359 million tons in 2018 and 368 million tons in 2019. Although

plastic production in some parts of the world has declined in minimal percentage, there have

been no signs of a continuous drop since the pandemic hit. (PlasticsEurope, 2020) Plastic is also

a widely used material in the healthcare industry especially in maintaining sanitation for

medical equipment and personal protective wear. However, plastics have a large effect on our

environment. Other than the fact that it has accumulated in landfills and polluted and

contaminated the land, water, and even air due to the burning of plastics, there has been

continuous research on a proper way to dispose of plastics and eliminate their effects on the

environment. (Thompson, et. al, 2009)

Bioplastic is an innovative take on plastic using renewable and biodegradable materials to

find a solution to the biggest disadvantage of plastic materials and still aim to achieve, if not

the same, close to the actual mechanical properties of plastic and what makes plastic a versatile

material to many industries. Bioplastics can be classified into their origin, chemical

composition, application, and synthesis methods. Commercially available bioplastics are either

biocomposites or blends of bio composite and copolymers because it’s the composition that is

7
at par with the mechanical properties of plastic and low cost at the same time. Examples are

starch-based bioplastics which also fall under the category of bioplastics extracted directly from

biomass. (Song, et. al, 2011)

In research done by Chandarana and Chandra (2021) on the production of bioplastics from

banana peels, it was discovered that the starch in the banana peel has provided a comparable

result in terms of tensile strength and elongation as bioplastic to synthetic plastic. The intensity

of degradation of the bioplastic also showed promising results in comparison to the synthetic

plastic that did not degrade at all. The tests conducted led the researchers to the conclusion that

the bioplastic made from banana peel is an ideal alternative to synthetic plastic. It is expected

by the researchers that it can be used by different industries in applications such as packaging

and the like and is in competitive range to synthetic and widely used plastic. A preliminary

study was done by Sultan and Joharil (2017) about the development of banana peel/cornstarch

bioplastic film has also shown results on banana peel being a more effective material for

bioplastic when paired with starch as a co-biopolymer. The banana peel film with 4% cornstarch

generated 34.5 N/m2 of tensile strength and is considered to be the highest in comparison to the

other samples within the research.

The production of rice in the Philippines is greatly improving over the years and has

resulted in lesser rice importing purchases from Thailand and Vietnam. Having maintained this

gradual growth of rice production, the Philippines is also one of the biggest rice consumers in

the world. With this being said, rice starch is accessible given that rice itself is a staple in a

Filipino household. (Bordey, 2011) The research corn and rice starch-based bioplastics as

alternative packaging materials by Marichelvam, Jawaid, and Asim (2019) discovered that the

samples with higher rice starch content served to have higher tensile strength also contributed

8
by the high amylose content (Table 1), least water absorption which means enhances shelf life

because it has a lower moisture content, and weight loss in biodegradability is 48.7% in 15 days.

According to the Senate Economic Planning Office of the Philippines (2017), 52% of the

solid waste is composed of biodegradable waste which mostly comes from food waste. Many

of these food wastes are known as biodegradable waste and are foreseen to degrade and

decompose over time, it still takes years for this to happen unless processed. Eggshells are one

of these food wastes that are expensive for food industries to process for disposal and they can

cause environmental problems. (Kasamuri & Zait, 2018) However, a disposal problem can be

a beneficial factor for other materials that could utilize the properties of the eggshells and not

just be put to waste. A review on the progress of bio-calcium carbonate waste eggshell and

seashell fillers in polymer composites by Owuamanam and Cree (2020) has found the

significant contribution of bio-calcium carbonate, found in eggs, as fillers and has successfully

been used to improve the mechanical properties of a material when mixed in powder form.

Another research was also done by Kasmuri and Zait (2018) on the enhancement of bioplastic

using eggshells and chitosan on potato starch-based found that the adding of eggshells as a filler

to the bioplastic has increased its tensile strength by 4.94% and its weight loss in

biodegradability by 21.06% in 20 days. The conclusion drawn out from this research is that the

9
 influence of eggshell fillers improved the properties of potato-based bioplastic. Thus, factors

that have contributed to the improvement of the quality of bioplastics have been taken together

and will be further researched.

B. Theoretical Framework

Plastic

A polymeric substance with the ability to be molded or formed, usually with the use of heat

and pressure. Plasticity, which is frequently combined with other specific features like low density,

low electrical conductivity, transparency, and toughness, allows plastics to be produced into a wide

range of items. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking bottles, flexible garden hoses made of

polyvinyl chloride (PVC), insulating food containers made of foamed polystyrene, and

shatterproof windows constructed of polymethyl methacrylate are just a few examples.

(Rodriguez)

Bioplastic

Bioplastics are a broad category of materials. They are a group of materials with a variety

of qualities and applications. Plastic material is described as bioplastic if it is either biobased,

biodegradable, or has both attributes, according to European Bioplastics. The phrase 'biobased'

refers to a material or product that is developed (in part) from biomass (plants). Bioplastics are

made from biomass such as corn, sugarcane, or cellulose. (European Bioplastics)

10
Banana peel

Banana peel is the outer covering of the banana fruit. Banana peels are used as food for

animals, an ingredient in cooking, water purification, for manufacturing of several biochemical

products. Potassium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, sodium, magnesium, and sulfur are found

in banana peels. The starch in the banana peel could be used in the production of biodegradable

plastic.

Rice starch

Rice is a hypoallergenic starch that has a bland taste, is white, and has a smooth texture as

a gel. Corn starch, on the other hand, is yellowish-white in color, has a characteristic "cereal"

smell, and forms a hard gel. In terms of end-use quality features, rice has several benefits over

alternative sources of starch in the food processing business. Starch has two types of molecules:

linear and helical amylose, and branching amylopectin. Depending on the type of plant, the

amylose concentration can range from 20 to 25 percent, whereas the amylopectin content can range

from 75 to 80 percent by weight. Amylopectin, in comparison to amylose, is a much larger

molecule. When starch is cooked, it becomes soluble in water, causing the grains to enlarge and

explore. The semi-crystalline arrangement is also lost as a result of this, and small amylose

particles begin to percolate out of the granule and form a network. This network compresses water

and raises the viscosity of the mixture.

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Eggs

An egg is an animal's reproductive body that is spherical or ellipsoidal. Inside the egg is

the fertilized ovum that grows and develops as an embryo. It is produced and released outside of

the animal body.

Eggshells

An eggshell is the outer covering of a hard-shelled egg and some forms of eggs with soft

outer coats. Eggshell is made almost entirely of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystals. It is a

semipermeable membrane, which means that air and moisture can pass through its pores. The shell

also has a thin outermost coating called the bloom or cuticle that helps keep out bacteria and dust.

Tensile Strength

The maximum load that a material can support without fracture when being stretched,

divided by the original cross-sectional area of the material. Tensile strengths have dimensions of

force per unit area and in the English system of measurement are commonly expressed in units of

pounds per square inch, often abbreviated to psi. When stresses less than the tensile strength are

removed, a material returns either completely or partially to its original shape and size. As the

stress reaches the value of the tensile strength, however, a material, if ductile, that has already

begun to flow plastically rapidly forms a constricted region called a neck, where it then fractures.

Figure (1). The formula for tensile strength

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ASTM D638

This test method is designed to produce tensile property data for the control and

specification of plastic materials. These data are also useful for qualitative characterization and

research and development. This test method covers the determination of the tensile properties of

unreinforced and reinforced plastics in the form of standard dumbbell-shaped test specimens when

tested under defined conditions of pretreatment, temperature, humidity, and testing machine speed.

This test method is applicable for testing materials of any thickness up to 14 mm (0.55 in.).

However, for testing specimens in the form of thin sheeting, including film less than 1.0 mm (0.04

in.) The values stated in either SI units or other units shall be regarded separately as standard.

Figure (2). Standard specimen for ASTM D638

Water Solubility

Water solubility is one of the most critical qualities impacting chemical compound bioavailability

and environmental fate. Photolysis and hydrolysis are two processes that destroy highly water-

soluble compounds more quickly. The percentage of total soluble matter (% solubility) is

13
calculated in Figure (3). Where WS is solubility in water; W0 is the weight at the beginning of the

bioplastics, and Wf is the final weight of the bioplastics.

Figure (3). The equation for the percentage of total soluble matter

Biodegradability

Biodegradation is a chemical reaction in which naturally occurring microbes degrade

things into natural substances including water, carbon dioxide, and compost (artificial additives

are not needed). The biodegradation process is influenced by the surrounding environment (for

example, location or temperature), the material, and the application. The evolution of plastics

is being driven by bioplastics. Biobased plastics have two key advantages over traditional

plastics: they conserve fossil resources by using biomass that regenerates (annually) and they

have the unique potential of being carbon neutral. Furthermore, biodegradability is an optional

feature of some bioplastics. It provides additional recovery options at the end of a product's life

cycle. Biodegradation of bioplastic can be characterized by the loss of weight, change in tensile

strength, change in dimensions, change in chemical and physical properties, carbon dioxide

production, bacterial activity in the soil, and change in molecular weight distribution. The

biodegradability test was measured by Equation (1):

Weight Loss (%) = [(Wo − W)/Wo] × 100,

(1)

where Wo and W are the weights of samples before and after the test.

14
ASTM 5988-03

This test method was used to determine the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of

plastic materials using soil as a matrix and source of inoculum. As disposal of plastic is becoming

a global concern, the results from this test method determine the degree of biodegradability and

the amount of time on which the plastic remains in an aerobic environment. The test is designed

to determine the biodegradability of plastic materials, relative to that of standard material, in an

aerobic environment. The test is designed to apply to all plastic materials that are not inhibitory to

the bacteria and fungi present in the simulated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). The values stated

in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

MSTM-205

Water-soluble polymers are commonly used as packaging materials such as household care

and toiletries. With that, the consumer can directly add the water-soluble polymer to a mixture.

This test method is used to determine the disintegration rate and relative dissolution of a water-

soluble film when immersed in water at 20℃.

15
C. Conceptual Framework

Figure (4). Conceptual Framework

The eggshell fillers that will be used in this research are eggshells that will be collected

from households and other industries that have eggshells as waste such as restaurants. Waste

eggshells will then be cleaned thoroughly and be fully dried. The banana peel will also be collected

16
from households or small business owners selling cooked bananas wherein the banana peel would

be considered food waste. The banana peel will also be cleaned and dried together with the rice.

The eggshell fillers in powder form will be weighed according to the ratio and mixed with the

banana peel and rice starch is also weighed and ground. After the mixing or the combining process,

glycerol will be added as a plasticizer. A separate batch with eggshell fillers and another without

eggshell fillers will be made and the plasticizer will be added in both. After adding the glycerol,

the paste or mixture will then be cast into sheets and baked at 120°C. Once cooled down, the

specimen will be cut into standard dimensions and form according to the test. The specimens will

be tested with tensile strength through the ASTM D638 standard of testing tensile strength for

plastics, water solubility through MSTM 205 which is the standard test method for solubility of

MonoSol Water-Soluble film when contained in a plastic holder, and biodegradability by the

ASTM D6003-96 standard of testing the rate of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials through

a controlled compost environment. Following the testing will be the data gathering then data

analysis together with results and discussion and then the conclusion.

17
 CHAPTER III
Methodology

A. Preparation of Bioplastic Samples

Materials Needed:

● Eggshells ● Distilled Water

● Rice Starch ● Acetic Acid

● Glycerol ● Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

● Banana Peels ● Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

Equipment Needed:

● Kitchen Knife ● Graduated Cylinder

● Beaker ● Mortar and Pestle

● Bunsen Burner ● Weighing Scale

● Filter Paper ● Rolling Pin

● Strainer ● Parchment Paper

● Blender

18
Fabrication Procedures

Preparation of Eggshell Particulate Bio-Filler

1. Wash the eggshell thoroughly.

2. Dry the eggshell under the heat of the sun.

3. Once dry, slowly remove the membrane from the eggshells by separating them by hand.

4. Once the membrane has been removed, place the eggshells in a mortar and pestle.

5. Crush the eggshells until it has a powder-like physical form.

Extraction of Rice Starch

1. Wash and cook 100 grams of rice.

2. Grind the cooked rice in a mortar with 100 mL distilled water.

3. Filter the mixture to extract the ground rice.

4. Return the ground rice into the mortar and repeat steps 2 and 3 for five times.

5. Transfer the solid mass left from the mixture to the beaker and allow it to settle for 5

minutes.

6. Add 100mL of distilled water to the beaker with solid mass and agitate the mixture,

softly.

7. Remove the water.

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for four more times.

19
Preparation of Bioplastic Mixture

1. Banana peels are sliced into square shapes and dipped in acetic acid for 45 minutes.

2. The banana peels are then boiled in distilled water for 30 minutes.

3. The water is removed and the banana peels are placed on a flat surface and are left to

dry for 30 minutes.

4. The dried peels are then placed in a beaker. Using a hand blender, pure the peels until

a paste-like mixture is formed.

5. Place 25 grams of banana paste in another beaker.

6. Add 3mL of hydrochloric acid to the paste and stir.

7. Add 2mL of glycerol and stir.

8. Gradually add 0.5N sodium hydroxide until the desired pH is achieved.

9. Spread the mixture on parchment paper and is placed in the oven to be baked for 30

minutes at 120℃.

10. Scrape off the film from the parchment paper once cooled.

B. Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics (ASTM D638)

Preparation of Specimen

The test specimen for the tensile strength test will be made following the dimensions shown

in Figure 1. Type I specimen is recommended when a material has a thickness of 7mm (0.28

inches) or less. The Type II specimen is recommended when the Type I specimen does not break

in the narrow section.

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Testing Procedure

1. Attach both ends of the specimen to the Universal Testing Machine as indicated in Fig

1. Using an imaginary vertical line, make sure that the grips of the machine should be

aligned with the center of the specimen. Tighten the grips to the degree necessary to

prevent slippage of the specimen during the test, but not to the point where the specimen

would be crushed.

Figure 2. Schematic Diagram for Specimen Mounting

21
 2. Set the speed of testing at the proper rate as required by the specimen found in Table

1, and start the machine.

Table 1. Testing Speed Designations

3. Record the load-extension curve of the specimen.

4. Record the load and extension at the yield point (if one exists) and the load and

extension at the moment of rupture.

C. Standard Test Method For Determining Aerobic Biodegradation in Soil of Plastic

Materials or Residual Plastic Materials after Composting (ASTM D5988 - 03)

Preparation of Specimen

The test specimens for plastic films shall be 1 inch by 3 inches in strips weighing 1000mg.

Test specimens can be added directly to the soil matrix or after being submitted to a composting

test (ASTM D5338). In the latter case, a homogeneous and representative sample of the compost

containing the residual plastics is used.

22
Testing Method

1. Obtain 200 grams of soil, sieved to a particle size of 2 millimeters.

2. Add 8 grams of compost to the soil.

3. Using a pH meter, test the pH level of the soil.

NOTE: If no pH meter is available, place the soil sample in two different containers

and add distilled water until it creates a muddy slurry. In the first container, add ½

cup of vinegar. If the mixture is characterized by bubbling or fizzing, then the soil

has an alkaline pH, higher than 7. If no chemical reaction occurs to the first mixture,

add ½ cup of baking soda to the second container. If bubbling or fizzing is observed,

the soil has an acidic pH, lower than 7.

4. Test the moisture content of the soil by weighing the soil sample and record the weight.

After, expose the soil to the heat of the sun to remove the moisture. Weigh the dried

soil sample and record the weight. Substitute the following values obtained to the

formula:

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 − 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙

5. Place the soil into a glass jar.

6. Add 200 grams of the bioplastic specimen into the jar.

7. Add 50 mL of distilled water and 20 mL of 0.5 Potassium Hydroxide (0.5 KOH).

8. Cover the jar with an air-tight lid and place it in a dark area.

23
D. Standard Test Method for Solubility of MonoSol Water-Soluble Film when contained in

a Plastic Holder (MSTM 205)

Preparation of Specimen

The test specimen for the water solubility test method will have a dimension of 1.5 x

1.3 inches. No conditioning is necessary before testing the samples.

Testing Procedure

1. Place the specimen on a 35mm glass slide mount.

2. Fill a beaker with 500mL of water with a temperature of 20℃.

3. Measure the height of the column of water inside the beaker.

4. Place the beaker on a magnetic stirrer and turn it on. Adjust the speed of the stirrer until a

vortex is created with a height that is ⅕ of the height of the column of water,

5. Clamp the 35mm glass slide such that the long end of the slide is parallel to the water

surface.

6. Place the clamped glass slide inside the beaker and make sure that the slide is perpendicular

to the flow of water. The end of the clamp should also be immersed below the surface of

the water at 0.6 cm in depth.

7. Once the clamp and slide are dropped into the vortex, turn the timer on.

8. Measure the time when the bioplastic film starts to disintegrate. Once the film slips out

from the slide, remove the slide from the water.

9. Monitor the time in which the film slips out from the slide until no film is visible in the

water or when the time reaches 300 seconds.

24
E. Ethical Considerations

This study on the influence of eggshells as fillers on the Tensile Strength, Water

Solubility, and Biodegradability of banana peel rice starch bioplastic, both the making

and the testing methods, did not involve any procedures that may violate International

Standards and research guidelines. Secondly, no significant amount of pollution is

supplied to the environment since no chemicals or any hazardous materials were present.

Lastly, no human beings and animals were harmed in the whole duration of the research

process.

25
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