Cellulose from elephant grass leaves (pennisetum purpureum schumach.) as an alternative of bioplastic material

Abstract

Bioplastic made by mixing cellulose pulp from elephant grass leaves, chitosan, and glycerol with variation of chitosan to cellulose pulp ratio3:10, 4:10, 5:10 (grams /grams), and 3 mL of glycerol / 2 grams of cellulose pulp, using inversion phase method. Characterization of bioplastic included analysis of functional group with FTIR, swelling test, density test, morphology analysis, melting point test, and mechanical properties test. The results of functional group analysis showed that there were no new functional groups compared to its origin material. The mechanical properties testing shown that bioplastic produced with variation of chitosan to cellulose pulp ratio 3:10, 4:10, and 5:10 had tensile strength 3.9 MPa, 7.2 MPa, and 5.0MPa; elongation at break 196.3%, 208.1%, and 329.7%; modulus of elasticity 3.5 MPa, 11.9 MPa, and 1.8 MPa respectively. Density values of those products were 1.1226 grams / cm³, 1.1249 grams / cm³, and 1.1273 grams / cm³ while the water resistance value weresuccessively69.009 %, 27.822 %, and 14.136 %.The results shown that cellulose from elephant grass leaves could form bioplastic.