The Production of Bioplastic from Banana Peel via Power Ultrasonic Extraction

Banana is one of the popular fruits among consumers due to their rich nutritional value. The banana peel that is the secondary product is often discarded as a waste despite its potential value. However, the use of banana peel waste is being considered as useful due to having the potential to produce sustainable things. Therefore, this study aimed to extract and evaluate pectin and starch from banana peel using the power ultrasonic (PUS) extraction method. The presence of starch and pectin was confirmed using the iodine test and preliminary alcohol precipitation test. The presence of starch is indicated by a dark blue-black color while pectin formation appears as a cloudy or precipitated solution. The result showed the highest yields obtained were 18.235% for starch and 20.187% for pectin. The extracted starch and pectin were then used to develop the bioplastic by using solution casting method. The morphology properties such as Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were examined for the production of bioplastic to know the characterization of the bioplastic. The results indicated that the bioplastic exhibited a relatively smooth surface morphology with visible starch granules and FTIR analysis showed characteristic functional groups. Mechanical testing using a universal testing machine (UTM) showed highest a tensile strength of 1.623 MPa, a Young’s modulus of 240.97 MPa and an elongation at break of 60%. In conclusion, the bioplastic showed good morphological and mechanical properties, suggesting that it is suitable for sustainable packaging. This research highlights the potential of innovative solutions in promoting sustainable practices in environmentally friendly material development.