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Recent Submissions
Computer Programming for Engineering Application
(Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2016) School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering
Bacteriology
(Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2015) School of Physical Science, Department of Science Laboratory Technology.
Medical Microbiology
(Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2015-08-24) School of Physical Sciences, Department of Science Laboratory Technology.
Computer Programming for Engineering Application
(Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2015) School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering
Production and characterisation of biodegradable biofilm from plantain peel, eggshell and cassava starch
(Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2025-01) Okeyahweh, Chinyere Simcha
Biodegradable films are made from natural polymeric materials such as starch, vegetable oil, cellulose, lignin, and also materials derived from animals such as proteins and lipids. They are easily degraded by microbes, and the degradation process does not take a long time. The present study investigated the use of ripe plantain peels as a source material for producing biodegradable biofilms; using powdered ripe plantain peels, eggshell powder, acetic acid – vinegar - and cassava starch produced in the study. The biofilms synthesized were plantain peel-based biodegradable biofilms: P-BF, and non-plantain peel biofilm: N-BF, which served as control. The synthesized biofilms were characterized using FTIR, GC-MS, morphology test, water absorption property, biodegradation test, solubility test and swelling test and mechanical test; ultimate tensile test, flexural, hardness test, % elongation and thermo gravimetric analysis. The results of the FTIR analysis of the P-BF and N-BF showed 8 functional groups: ether, ethene, amine, carboxylic acid, nitriles, methylene, cyclic ester, primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols common to hydrocarbons. The results of the biodegradability test showed that both P-BF and NBF biofilms degraded completely on the 12th day. The results of the thermo gravimetric analysis showed that the P-BF biofilm decomposed at the temperature of 29.920C-500°C leaving 44.19% residue and compared to the N-BF biofilm which decomposed at the temperature of 22.170C - 500°C leaving 11.9% residue. This implies that, P-BF matrices, started degrading at 130 °C, while N-PF fibers start degrading at 139 °C. Therefore, the processing temperature for ripe plantain peels was set to below 137 °C to avoid unwanted degradation of the material. Furthermore, the results of the mechanical tests for P-BF showed ultimate tensile test, flexural test, hardness test, and % elongation; 2.87±0.02 Nmm^2, 0.41±0.01 Nmm^2, 22.00±1.78 Nmm^2 and 6.29±0.01 Nmm^2 respectively. while, the result of the mechanical test of N-BF showed ultimate tensile test, flexural test, hardness test and % elongation; 5.45±0.02 Nmm^2, 0.41±0.01 Nmm^2, 49.00±1.78 Nmm^2 and 13.85±0.03 Nmm^2 respectively. The solubility test of P-BF showed partial solubility in acetone, sulfuric acid and ethyl alcohol while the N-BF were completely insoluble in ethyl alcohol but partially soluble in sulfuric acid and acetone. The result showed that the biofilm was not completely soluble. The results of the swelling test for P-BF showed a mean of 0.04±0.00 when soaked in chloroform; and N-BF; 0.02±0.00. When soaked in methanol, P-BF showed a mean of 0.10±0.00 while N-BF showed a mean of 0.10± 0.01.The water absorption analysis showed that P-BF had 31% engorgement while N-PF had 46 % engorgement. The P-BF have high affinity for water due to the hydrophilic nature of the cellulosic fibers in the plantain peel as well as the water absorbing property of glycerol. The biodegradability test showed the plantain based biofilm degraded completely with no toxic effect on the soil implying that the biomass may serve as a potential material for production of an ecofriendly biofilm with good mechanical properties. The study showed that biodegradable biofilms can be synthesized from plantain peel at 3 % plantain peel, 1 % acetic acid, 3 % cassava starch, 1 % eggshell and 3 % glycerol. In conclusion, the study reported that powdered plantain peel-based biofilm with good mechanical properties can be produced.