Valerie Joyce A. Casiño¹, Nathanael Q. Delos Reyes Jr.^1,, Rolando Y. Casas¹, Ian Jay P. Saldo¹, Mary Jade Peñafiel-Dandoy¹

The increasing demand for eco-friendly products has led to the development of bioplastics as a substitute for conventional petroleum-based plastics. This study aimed to assess the properties of cornstarch-based bioplastics reinforced with three species of bamboo shoots: Bambusa vulgaris, Bambusa vulgaris var. striata, and Bambusa blumeana. The properties investigated included tensile strength, water solubility, biodegradability, water absorption, and moisture content. A comparison was also made between the reinforced bioplastics and pure cornstarch bioplastic. The results revealed that the inclusion of shredded bamboo shoots significantly influenced the characteristics of the cornstarch-based bioplastic. Among the tested bioplastics, the one reinforced with B. vulgaris exhibited the highest tensile strength (ranging from 2703.37 Pa to 3341.2 Pa), while the unreinforced bioplastic had the lowest strength. Water solubility was lowest in the bioplastic reinforced with B. vulgaris (45.52%), and highest in the one reinforced with B. vulgaris var. striata (59.58%). The unreinforced bioplastic had the highest biodegradability (63.89%), while the reinforced bioplastic with B. vulgaris had the lowest (36.62%). Furthermore, the bioplastic reinforced with B. blumeana exhibited the highest water absorption (157.36%), and the moisture content was 15.56% for B. blumeana and 9.39% for B. vulgaris var. striata. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in water solubility, tensile strength, and moisture content between the various bioplastics. However, significant differences were observed in biodegradability and water absorption. Overall, the cornstarch-based bioplastic reinforced with B. vulgaris var. striata demonstrated the most desirable properties, including good tensile strength, high water solubility, good biodegradability, average water absorption, and low moisture content. This study highlights the potential of bioplastics as an environmentally friendly solution, while emphasizing the need for further investigation and improvement in their utilization and ecological qualities.

absorption of water, bamboo shoots, biodegradability, glycerol, moisture content, starch-based bioplastic, tensile strength, water solubility