Production and biodegradability of a bio-based polylactide from corn

The proliferation of petrochemical plastic waste poses a threat to environmental quality and animal health. In this context, an alternative to traditional petrochemical plastics could be biodegradable bioplastics. In this study, a bioplastic based on polylactic acid (PLA) type of polyester was synthesized from local agricultural biomass. The objective is to propose a biodegradable plastic as an alternative to help reduce petrochemical plastic waste. The methodology for synthesizing the bioplastic from local corn biomass required several steps, ranging from corn germination to the polymerization of lactic acid. The natural germination method was used to obtain glucose. The glucose was then metabolized by the lactic acid bacterial strain Pediococcus acidilactici LabRcJ-10, leading to the formation of crude lactic acid. Liquid-liquid extraction was performed using diethyl ether. The bioplastic was synthesized with a yield of 7.87%, linked to the low growth of Lactobacillus in the substrate. FTIR analysis revealed an intense peak at 1748 cm⁻¹, characteristic of the C=O stretching vibration present in the esters of polylactic acid (PLA). The material also exhibited a low solubility index but a relatively high moisture content. The bioplastic degradation test, conducted by burial in three different types of matrices, revealed significant biodegradability under aerobic conditions, favored by the progressive enrichment of the matrix with microorganisms.