2.

2 Methodology Flowchart
1.1 Introduction

     The amount of garbage and plastic waste in the community is gradually increasing throughout the

decades. Biodegradable waste increases with rising population. For that reason, the researchers

wanted to find a way to make the product work the same way as plastic, but can decompose and

dissolve in time that would not harm other living creatures. 

     The desire to produce a product from garbage or recycled materials into a solution that can help

reduce waste in our community and as an alternative to plastic. Therefore, the researchers wanted to

develop a material that can be made out of simple household products like the main materials which

are fruit waste and paper.

     Improper garbage waste disposal is inevitable. Solid waste is one of the community’s health

problems which includes biodegradable waste such as fruit waste and papers. Moreover, Discipline

cannot be fully observed from citizens all over the country, and garbage scattered across our lands is

a solid proof. Humans are the reason why innocent animals get disrupted and disturbed. It is very

unfair for animals to suffer from ignorant and undisciplined acts of humans. Most people can easily

waste and throw paper after being used regardless of the billions of trees being cut down to make

paper each year.

     Bakelite was the first synthetic plastic that was produced in 1907. It is the beginning of the global

plastic industry. However, the rapid growth of plastic pollution was not realized until the 1950s.

Plastic waste determines its risk of entering the ocean. Approximately 80 percent of ocean plastics

came from land-based sources, and 20 percent from marine.     

     Plastics are strong and buoyant that show resilience in the marine environment, allowing the

plastic to be transported over far distances. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine

debris in the North Pacific Ocean. Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large
bodies of water. It is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. It is like an island full of

plastic floating on the ocean. 

     The researchers want to make this product to make a solution that can reduce waste in the

community. Fruit peels are generally found in houses, cafeterias and markets as waste and ready to

be discarded. As well as papers from students after school year or even scratch papers that they had

used to solve math solutions. Virgin papers or clean white papers are used once after it was written

like most plastics that is only used once.

     Intelligently using these materials converted into a product that can be a potential solution to one

of the leading problems the world faces or plastic pollution by simply reusing fruit peels, the amount

of waste in households may be decreased, and using recycled papers minimize logging, deforestation

and help the environment. The researchers plan to make BioPlastic using combinations of fruit waste

that everyone can easily buy and afford. Examples are wastes from orange, tangerine, watermelons,

melons, lemons, mangos, pomelos. The recycled papers, on the other hand, is added to the mixture

before it solidifies. It will increase the amount of the product, reduce garbage waste, making good

use of recycled papers, and base on a research, it can make the output more durable.

     BioPlastic is simply plastic produced from organic compounds that can decompose shorter than

petroleum-based plastic. It will serve some functions similar to plastic that people widely used today.

BioPlastic can be used in people’s daily lives based on how it will be made and produced. For

example, if it is thin and flexible, consumers can use it as a bag or a carrying container just like

plastic bags for simple things they possess. With precise amounts and accurate components, it can be

formed into containers or tray, household equipment or even pots for gardening.
     The BioPlastic can also serve benefits with inputs it requires. Papers are widely used without the

thought of recycling it after. Fruit waste will be used up to its full potential. Instead of immediately

throwing it away, it can be reused to a material that will be further used.

One thing is certain, the product will help reduce garbage waste in our community and try to

replace plastic for everyday use. In other words, we want to hit two birds with one stone which are

reducing solid waste in our community and utilizing fruit waste and paper to produce BioPlastic.

2.6 Data Analysis Procedure

Tensile Test

Most researches used a technique wherein they hook the object into the output allowing it to gain

cleavage or increase its probability of breaking and it’s not how we normally use plastic bags, for

that reason, the researchers will design a model to test the tensile strength of the output. The model is

designed to replicate how we use plastic by hanging the output and applying force by adding objects

with substantial weight. Additionally, the model will test the product the same way as how we use

plastic as a container or a bag.        

Since the researchers don’t possess Testometric machine or expensive equipment. The film

samples were tested by hanging the output with clamps on both ends. The weight or stress was

applied at the center of the hanged Prototype. Weight is added until the BioPlastic broke. The final

weight will be recorded and will be the limitation of the BioPlastic. Weight or object are weighed

before applying it to the BioPlastic prototype. The researchers supervised and waited for the
BioPlastic to respond but if the BioPlastic remained from its initial position and did not break, fall

and still in one piece, the researchers applied another object with significant weight, then the cycle

continues.

Water Solubility Test

       The film samples were cut into square sections of 6x8 cm, and the dry film mass was weighed

accurately and recorded. The samples remained immersed in 100 mL distilled water was carried out

for 36 h. The lasting portions of the film were filtered after 36 h. They were then dried in a hot air

oven at 110 °C until an ultimate fixed weight was found. The percentage of total soluble matter (%

solubility) was calculated as WS (%) = [(W0 − Wf)/W0] × 100, 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. (M.K.

Marichelvam, et al). The average results will be identified by the equation: mean= summation of all

values/number of values. Where the result of all trials will be added and divided by the number of

trials.

Biodegradability Test

       The specimen was cut into pieces of 6x8 cm. Found near the roots of plants which are rich in

nitrogenous bacteria, 500 g of soil (having slight moisture content) was collected and stored in a

container. The sample was underneath the soil for 100 hours. The weight of the specimen was

measured before and after the testing. The biodegradability test was measured by Equation: Weight

Loss (%) = [(Wo − W)/Wo] × 100, where Wo and W are the weights of samples before and after the

test. (M.K. Marichelvam, et al).

 The average results will be identified by the equation: mean= summation of all values/number

of values. Where the result of all trials will be added and divided by the number of trials.

Survey

Flexibility, Scent/Odor, Texture, Sturdiness, and Overall Appearance are gathered through

survey. The said categories were conducted and rated from 1 to 5. For Flexibility, the respondents

rate it from 1 or Very unsatisfied to 5 or Very Satisfied. For Scent/Odor, the respondents rate it from

1 or Very Unpleasant to 5 or Very Pleasant. For texture, the respondents rate it form 1 or Very

Rough to 5 or Very Smooth. For Sturdiness and Overall Appearance, the respondents rate it from 1

or Very Poor to 5 or Excellent. We used Likert scale for our survey. The rate was measured by the

equation: Rate(%)= (Percentage/Base) x 100, where percentage is the number of people answered

the specific option and base is the total respondents. The mean was measured by the equation: mean=

summation of all values/number of values.

Chapter 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 A brief and rigorous review of the findings that can also be found in the other chapters, and the

analysis of outcome and test results of the study. Each chapter gives different research question and

will relevantly be the topic that needs to be answered thoroughly.

3.1 Introduction

The researchers conducted an experimental research entitled “Utilization of Fruit Waste and

Recycled Papers for Bioplastic Synthesis” wherein the researchers garner all the desired data with

the help of the previous studies on how they do and test the tensile strength, biodegradability, and

water solubility. The previous research that is similar to the researchers study is the banana

BioPlastic in which the former researchers used antioxidant and preservative that would increase the

biodegradation period of plastic. The researchers can sum these methods up to have a better product

that will be suitable to all users. For the researchers want to have a successful outcome of the product

that can inspire others hence the researchers should not only base on their own understanding

because with lack of research and no proven supposition, it will be hard to perform the experiment

with a promising outcome. Their theories and findings are what mostly important to the researchers

thus to develop and to improve their works, and to not commit mistakes during the

process. For the previous researchers only worked with a specific fruit waste, but our team will use a

combination of fruit waste that are not yet proven and some have no starch content to test and

substantiate that they are capable of being converted into BioPlastic. The researchers also have learned

that the use of glycerol for the product can serve as the polymer for plastic or plasticizer. At the very

beginning of the research, the researchers did not include the use of glycerol. Therefore the first

experimentation was not flexible as the product that has glycerol. The use of glycerol was already

proven by the previous researchers and with a validate analysis, we found out that the result of our third
experimentation had achieved our expectations. Adding appropriate amount of starch during the 3rd

experiment led us to our final product with accurate and proportional amount of starch and glycerol.

3.2 Evaluation

Tensile Test

Parameters Limited Weight (in grams)

1st Trial Less than 3950 

2nd Trial Less than 5300

Table 1. Result of Tensile Test of BioPlastic

Base on the results, the first sample is thinner hence the limited weight is lowered compared to

the second sample and the second sample is thicker hence the limited weight is higher compared to

the first sample.. Both samples have the same amount of glycerol and starch but the thickness is

different. We found out from this test that the thinness or thickness of the BioPlastic affects the

tensile strength of the output.

Water Solubility Test

Samples Initial Weight Final Weight (in Solubility

(in grams) grams) in (%)

1st Trial 5.5 3.4 38.18

2nd Trial 3.7 2.4 35.14

3rd Trial 2.3 1.6 30.43

4th Trial 1.6 1.1 31.25

5 Trial 1.9 1.3 31.58

Average 3 1.96 33.316

Table 2. Results of Water Solubility Test of BioPlastic

 Overtime, the water where the samples were dissolved are noticeably gained a greenish color.

from the first hours, then water is light green but after a while or more than 20 hours, the water is

visibly green. The bioplastic samples became soft and can easily be destroyed or broken down into

pieces. Additionally, it can certainly be torn apart manually. It lost weight that ranges from 30% to

38% in 36 hours underwater and an average of 33.316%. By this results, our product, the bioplastic,

is soluble in water.

Biodegradability Test

Samples Initial Final Biodegradability

  Weight Weight in (%)
  (in (in
  grams) grams)
  1st Trial 10.4 9.8 5.77

2nd Trial 8.6 8.2 4.65

3rd Trial 9.7 9.3 4.12

Average 9.57 9.1 4.85

Table 3. Results of biodegradability Test of BioPlastic

After 100 h beneath soil, there are noticeable black spots that shows microorganism

interrogation. It lost about 4% to 6% of weight or an average of 4.85%. In conclusion, our product,

the BioPlastic is biodegradable since our product did not undergo sterilization, it has bacteria and

spores of its own and can speed up the process in terms of degrading.
 Category (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)
Very Satisfie Fair Unsatisfie Very
Satisfie d d Unsatisfied
d

Flexibility 11 19 5 0 0

 Flexibility

Table 4. Result of the Survey for Flexibility in Count

11 Out of 35 Respondents answered Very Satisfied, 19 answered Satisfied, 5 respondent

answered Fair, 0 respondent answered Unsatisfied and Very Unsatisfied.

 Flexibility
14

Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Fair
54
32 Unsatisfied

Figure 3. Result of the Survey for Flexibility in Percentage

Flexibility in BioPlastic can be achieved by adding glycerol proportional to the amount of fruit

waste and paper. Adding more glycerol to make it more flexible will only waste resources hence the

flexibility can only be altered by producing an output thin enough to be flexible like the petroleum-

based plastic. Thin output can make the BioPlastic less tensile but more flexible and thick output can

make the BioPlastic less flexible but more tensile.

Category (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Very Pleasant Neutral Unpleasant Very
Pleasant Unpleasant

Scent 7 20 8 0 0

Scent/Odor

Table 5. Result of the Survey for Scent/Odor in Count

 7 Out of 35 Respondents answered Very Pleasant, 20 answered Pleasant, 5 respondent answered

Neutral, 0 respondent answered Unpleasant and Very Unpleasant.

Scent/Odor
23 20
Very Pleasant
Pleasant
Neutral
Unpleasant

57

Figure 4. Result of the Survey for Flexibility in Percentage

 The odor is still debatable thus some people claimed that it smells disgusting while some people

claimed that it spells like tea. We don’t use any odor enhancers because in this research we only used

pasteurization hence bacteria can multiply and cause unpleasant odor quicker than BioPlastic that

was sterilized. Sterilization and odor enhancers are a pair and must be done both for future research.

Category (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Very Smooth Smooth Fair Rough Very Rough

Texture 2 7 14 12 0

Texture

Table 6. Result of the Survey for Texture in Count

2 Out of 35 Respondents answered Very Smooth, 7 answered Smooth, 14 respondent answered

Fair, 12 respondents answered Rough, and 0 respondent answered Very Rough.

6
Texture
Very Smooth
34 20
Smooth
Fair
Rough
Very Rough

40
 Figure 5. Result of the Survey for Texture in Percentage

The texture of our BioPlastic depends on how grinded the Fruit waste are. Most respondents

answered rough since some of the fruit waste are not grinded well or broken down into tiny pieces.

Smooth BioPlastic can be achieved by grinding or powdering the fruit waste. In conclusion, more

time inside the blender can produce a smoother BioPlastic.

Category (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Excellent Good Fair Poor Very Poor

Sturdiness 12 16 7 0 0

Sturdiness

Table 7. Result of the Survey for Sturdiness in Count

12 Out of 35 Respondents answered Excellent, 16 answered Good, 7 respondent answered Fair,

0 respondent answered Poor and Very Poor.

Sturdiness
20
Excellent
34
Good
Fair
Poor

46

Figure 6. Result of the Survey for Sturdiness in Percentage

As a product that expected to be for commercial use, we want the opinion of the people about

the durability or sturdiness of the our product without looking at its quantitative data. Base on their
answers, majority of the respondents answered good which means that the people are satisfied about

the output we provided them.

Category (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Excellent Good Fair Poor Very Poor

Overall 15 15 5 0 0
Appearance

Overall Appearance

Table 8. Result of the Survey for Overall Appearance in Count

15 Out of 35 Respondents answered Excellent, 15 answered Good, 5 respondent answered Fair,

0 respondent answered Poor and Very Poor.

Overall Appearance
14

Excellent
43 Good
Fair
Poor
Very Poor
43

Figure 7. Result of the Survey for Overall Appearance in Percentage

The hue of our BioPlastic is in the shade of green. The color, texture, and scent affects this

category. 15 respondents answered good and excellent. By this results, the researchers can still

improve its overall appearance by the texture consistency, color consistency, and its odor.
3.3 Conclusion

Conclusion
5 4.29
3.89 3.97 4.14
4
2.97
3
2
1
0

Flexibility Scent/Odor Texture

Sturdiness Overall Appearance

Figure 8. Mean of the Results of the Survey from Count

Tensile strength is determined by the thickness of the output and the amount of starch but too

much starch can lead to a sticky consistency and took a long time to dry. Our product can be

dissolved underwater and can dissolve up to 38.18% with an average of 33.316% for 36 hours. Our

product is made from fruit waste hence it can degrade up to 5.77% with an average of 4.85% in 100
hours beneath the soil. Flexibility is determined by the thinness, thickness, and the glycerol content.

We don’t use any odor enhancers because in this research we only used pasteurization hence bacteria

can multiply and can cause unpleasant odor quicker than BioPlastic that was sterilized. The texture

can be inconsistent throughout the output hence some parts can be rough or smooth. The texture can

be improved by grinding the fruit waste into tinier pieces. And lastly, by this results, the researchers

can still improve its overall characteristics from texture consistency, color consistency, and pleasant

odor.