The Effect of Chitosan and Glycerol Mixture on Improving Biodegradable Plastic Properties of Young Coconut Husk (Cocos nucifera L.)

Abstract

Biodegradable plastics were synthesized from young coconut husk which taken from Medan Area district, Medan city, North Sumatera, Indonesia, and modified by increasing the mixtures of chitosan (C) and glycerol (G) with ratios of C:G and G:C as 1:1, 1:3, and 1:5. The increase of glycerol produces a thin plastic of 1.04 mm with a water resistance of 24.48%. It also produces a flexible plastic with an elongation of 96.89% and a lower tensile strength of 0.48 Pa. Meanwhile, the increase of chitosan results in a thicker plastic of 8.2 mm with a water resistance of 74.26% and tensile strength of 3.85 Pa, albeit with a lower elongation of 12.21%. The process of plastic degradation was observed for 15 days; the plastic with high glycerol content characterised an increased degradation percentage of 96.07%, while those with high chitosan content had a degradation percentage of 52.45%. The increasing amount of glycerol in the mixture results in a thinner and more flexible biodegradable plastic that decomposes easily in the soil.