Investigatory Project Display Board

Methodology
Materials and Equipments

 Water
 Cornstarch
 Vinegar
 Glycerol
 Baking soda
1. To make the plastic we need, add 7 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon of

cornstarch, 2.5 teaspoons of vinegar and 1.5 teaspoons of glycerol.
2. Put this on the stove and cook it. When it begins to boil, add a solution of 2
teaspoons of water and half a spoon of baking soda.
3. Put the pot to heat and continue to stir until it starts getting drier.
4. Put the mixture on a flat baking sheet or a flat container.
5. Dry it on the oven at low heat for one or two hours or moisture.
6. Once the plastic becomes harder, it will also retain lot of its flexibility.
Treatments or General Procedure
1. We mixed the components in our experiment and cooked.

2. When the treatment boils, we added a solution of water and baking soda.
3. We used cornstarch because it is a polymer. Polymers are large chains of
molecules just like plastics.
4. There is pectin in cornstarch which is broken down by acidic vinegar.
5. Glycerin was used to make the plastic more flexible and soft.
Results and Discussion
After the researcher conducted the experiment, it prove that cornstarch contains a
natural polymer, like amylase and amylopectin, that can be substituted to petroleum-based
plastic. Base on the experiment, the brittleness and flexibility of the plastic depends on the
amount of glycerol added in each plastic. The more glycerol added, the flexible the product
is. Plastic made from cornstarch decomposes faster in a short period of time compared to
petroleum-based plastic.
During the researcher’s experiment, we have observed that cornstarch does not easily
react on the vinegar added. And when the solution of basking soda and water is added to
the mixture, the experiment boils. It reacts easily and turned to a gel like form. We have also
observed that bioplastic do not easily dry. It should be dried at a span of 3 days so that the
component inside would completely dry.
We have used materials which can be found specifically in our kitchen like
cornstarch, baking soda, and vinegar. These materials are very abundant and each of this has
a specific role in our experiment. Glycerol makes the plastic soft and flexible, cornstarch
contains polymer which is just like the commercial plastics, vinegar reacts with the mixture
that cannot be seen by our naked eye. The researcher’s bioplastic does not look like the
commercial plastic we are using today but it has a potential to substitute petroleum-based
plastic.
Findings and Analysis
Type of Plastic Clay Sand Loam Water Seawater
Commercial Plastic 10 years 26 years 85 years 100 years 300 years
Biodegradable 15 weeks 24 weeks 6 weeks 3 weeks 36 weeks

Plastic
Base on the data we have gathered, it shows that the plastic made of cornstarch has a
higher biodegradability than the traditional plastic which is petroleum-base. Biodegradable
plastic which only take about 15 weeks to decompose while the commercial product takes
24 weeks or about 6 months to decompose while it take 6 week for biodegradable plastic to
decompose in loam. We also test the biodegradability of two products and in two different
kinds of water. In fresh water we have observed that biodegradable plastics made from
cornstarch takes only 3 weeks to decompose. In seawater, commercial plastic takes almost
300 years to partially decompose while biodegradable plastic takes only 36 weeks to
decompose.
Based on this data, we the researcher concluded that plastic made up from cornstarch
has a higher biodegradability. For this kind of plastic takes short period of the time to
totally decompose.
Conclusion
The researchers concluded that the study of bioplastics using cornstarch as the
main material is effective. Cornstarch is a good and cheaper which can be applied for the
production of bioplastic. The researcher give idea to the reader on what product we have to
produced. The product we made is truly biodegradable and does not harm the environment.
Unlike other commercial plastics, our bioplastics provide more effectiveness. It is also much
safe to use because it does not contain harmful chemicals found in petroleum-based plastic.
Our research also helps in the depletion of petroleum world-wide.
Recommendation
Cornstarch is the cheapest carbon source in the country that can be used in the
production of biodegradable plastics in the future in two ways: (1) as the blending material
cornstarch can be modified in different ways, so that the properties of starch in the
polymer are best possible. This will lead to the most reasonable production cost. (2) meeting
the market demand for sustainable plastics that are non-toxic, petroleum-free and can be
composted at the end of their useful life.
Despite the high quality properties of commercial plastics, biodegradable plastics will
be required in increasing amount of certain markets. Major polymer producers are therefore
increasing their research and develop better quality of bioplastic just like our plastic made
from cornstarch.
Bibliography
http//:www.google.com.ph
http//:www.yahoo.com.ph
http//:www.scribd.com.ph
http//:www.eHow.com.ph
http//:www.answer.com.ph
http//:www.wikipedia.com.ph

Investigatory Project Display Board

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Investigatory Project Display Board

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Methodology

Materials and Equipments

1. To make the plastic we need, add 7 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon of

Treatments or General Procedure

1. We mixed the components in our experiment and cooked.

Type of Plastic Clay Sand Loam Water Seawater

Commercial Plastic 10 years 26 years 85 years 100 years 300 years

Biodegradable 15 weeks 24 weeks 6 weeks 3 weeks 36 weeks

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