Enhanced Hydrophobicity Of Sweet Potato Starch Bioplastic Reinforced With Activated Carbon

Abstract

Sweet potato starch was employed to generate activated carbon-reinforced bioplastics in the study. Water absorption, solubility, and moisture analysis were used to investigate the hydrophobicity of sweet potato-based bioplastics. The samples were immersed in still distilled water for 24 hours to test water absorption. Water absorption was lowest in Sample B (7mL glycerin with 0.4g activated carbon) at 33.447% of weight gain and greatest in Sample F (11mL with 0g) at 41.578%. Water solubility was measured by stirring samples every hour for 24 hours. Sample B (7mL glycerin with 0.4g activated carbon) had the lowest water solubility with 11.434% weight loss, whereas sample F (11mL with 0g) had the greatest with 12.571%. Sample moisture was measured with the Satorius Moisture Analyzer. Sample G (11mL glycerin with 0.4g activated carbon) had the lowest moisture content at 18.72833%, whereas Sample F (11mL without activated carbon) had the highest at 22.391667%. The water absorption and solubility tests showed that activated carbon reinforcement increased bioplastic hydrophobicity.