Making Bioplastic from Potatoes

Introduction

Potatoes used for making delicious chips, French fries, chaat, etc will now be used for making bioplastic. The bioscientists at Maine University of U.K. have developed a novel method for making bioplastic from starch obtained from potatoes.

During the process of making the processed foods from potatoes, large quantities of left-overs are obtained as waste which can be used for making bioplastic. The whole process is very complicate, however, the left-over potato waste is first crushed into a pulp in a big grinding machine. The starch obtained from this pulp is then converted into glucose. Lactic acid in large quantity is then added to this. Then by subjecting this mixture to an electrically charged refinement process and thereafter passing it through carbon filters, a powder-like substance is obtained from which bioplastic is made.

According to the report of Chase Smith Policy Centre of Maine University due to the natural property of being biodegradable, the bioplastic obtained by this method is environment-friendly, i.e. unlike the conventional plastic it will not pollute the environment by remaining there for a long period. The report also states that the bioplastic obtained from potatoes can be used for making bottles, packets and all sorts of decoration objects.

Source

Invention Intelligence , July-August 2007