Central Composite Design for Optimization of Starch-Based Bioplastic with Bamboo Microfibrillated Cellulose as Reinforcement Assisted by Potassium Chloride

Background: Sago starch is a natural resource which has the potential to be used as a raw material for biocomposite such as bioplastic. In addition, bamboo cellulose is able to improve the characteristics of sago starch bioplastics. Potassium chloride can act as dispersing agent to increase efficiency in solution preparation of bamboo microfibrillated cellulose. This paper is aimed to observe the best condition for optimal tensile strength of sago starch-based bioplastics reinforced with bamboo cellulose dispersed in potassium chloride as assistance and durability assessment of the bioplastic by soil buried. To achieve this goal, bioplastic was prepared by using matrix of sago starch-based reinforced bamboo cellulose (1-5 %-w/w) assisted by sonication and dispersing agent of potassium chloride with 1-3 %-w/w. The bioplastic with optimum tensile strength was then analysed for durability by burying the sample in soil. Optimum tensile strength of bioplastics was obtained at 28.6 MPa with the optimum concentration of bamboo cellulose microfibril and potassium chloride of 5 %-w/w and 3 %-w/w, respectively. Post durability test, the non-reinforced and without dispersing agent bioplastic experienced a mass loss of 67.95%, while the bioplastic reinforced with bamboo cellulose assisted by potassium chloride experienced mass loss of 33.33% to 41.25% (more durable).