Biodegradable plastic from potatoes. Free Technical Library News

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Biodegradable plastic from potatoes

26.11.2019

Vietnamese researchers, Nong Van Phuoc and Dang Nguyen Xuan Trong, fourth-year students at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (HCM), have created a biodegradable plastic from potato starch. The goal is to reduce the use of single-use plastic products.

The main specialization of researchers is business administration and international trade. At the beginning of last year, the Phuoc school held a business idea competition in which students took part. One of the researchers' goals was to reduce the negative impact of plastic waste on the environment. While searching for an idea for a competition, Nong Van Phuoc noticed that some of the female students were eating edible rice paper that looked like plastic bags. And wondered if rice paper could be used as plastic bags?

As a result, Phuoc and Trong began experimenting with cornstarch and cassava starch. But the tests were not successful. The researchers then discovered that starch extracted from potatoes could be used to make biodegradable bags. Potato starch is mixed with water and glycerin according to the formula to create a mixture.

The mixture is boiled until the thickening process begins, then placed in molds in which it is naturally dried in the sun during the day. Biodegradable potato starch bags are a good alternative to plastic, but only dry food can be stored in them. Students also made spoons and small bowls from potato starch that can withstand cold or hot liquids for 30-45 minutes.

Biodegradable tableware can be used for up to one year if stored at the correct temperature.

"Our products decompose easily within three to five months. They are absolutely safe for humans," said Dang Nguyen Xuan Trong.

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To solve the problems encountered when measuring low shunt voltage drops in the presence of high common mode voltage, filter circuits can be inserted between the INA270 and INA271 stages to maintain a buffered output voltage. As a result, when driving ADCs or low-impedance loads, no additional amplifiers are required.

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