Lemon grass ( Cymbopogon citratus ) as Cellulose-based Bioplastic

A Research Paper

Presented to

The Moreno Integrated School

Junior High School Department

Daet, Camarines Norte

In Partial Fulfillment of

The Requirements in

Research III

Aras, Rain U.

Casiano, Hazelyn V.

Glipo, Ma. Zuswindy S.

Guatno, Mathew Rovinz

Laborte, Wildren A.

Sapungan, Avril A.

Mrs. Jenny Y. Sanchez

Research Teacher

2023

1
 INTRODUCTION

The plastic industry nowadays is heavily reliant on the usage of petroleum-derived plastic
materials, which causes considerable concern from both an economic and an environmental
standpoint. According to the study of Schachter & Karasik, 2022, the Philippines is the third-
largest producer of plastic pollution in the world, producing between 2.7 and 5.5 million metric
tons of plastic annually, 20% of which leaks into the environment. In addition, the continuation
of using finite oil resources indicates to more likely to eventually decrease the availability of the
cost of raw materials. Moreover, plastic usage has substantially been and still is part of our
everyday life, and the consumer use of plastic materials has shown a continuous increase over
time. Furthermore, almost all of our things now are made out of plastic, because it is the least
expensive kind of raw material that is applicable to everything. Normally, plastic items can take
up to 1000 years to decompose in landfills. But plastic bags we use in our everyday life take 10-
20 years to decompose, while plastic bottles take 450 years (LeBlanc, n.d.). Petroleum-based
plastics can take up to 500 years to decompose, slowly releasing toxic chemical additives into the
surrounding environment and breaking down into harmful microplastics (Bureau & Metro,
2021).

Im addition, in order to minimize the usage of plastic, the recognition and development of
bioplastic have been introduced. The enthusiasm for the development of bioplastics has become
more substantial and more significant under the idea of “waste to wealth” (Mat Nor et al., 2020).
Many study have been conducted with different kind of biodegradable material especially in the
waste management. The bioplastic can prevent plastic pollution, carbon dioxide emissions and
save fossil fuels. Generally, the polymers are produced from the petroleum yields, so the
production of these plastics needs additional fossil fuels, which causes pollution (Marichelvam et
al., 2019). To make the biodegradable plastic, the cost of bioplastic is higher than the commercial
plastic. However, the biodegradability characteristics of these plastics create a positive impact
especially in our lives and society, it also attracts researchers and industries.

2
 There are several types of bioplastic; starch, cellulose, protein, organic and aliphatic
polyester-based plastics. Cellulose-based bioplastic is familiar in the industry as it is in high
abundance, low cost and the availability. Cellulose is a crucial part for the plants growth because
they are the inner walls of the plant.Researchers are able to create bioplastic with cellulose,
because of its crystallization it may replace conventional plastic.The use of cellulose in
manufacturing bio plastic boosts its tensile strength because of its long polymer chains that
makes the bio plastic strong.Cellulose is also biodegradable which makes it ideal for reducing
the effect in the environment.Although strong enough with itself,plastics with cellulose improves
the stiffness and brittleness of the plastic.(Rusdianto et.al, 2022)

Cellulose is an essential component in the bioplastic industry, and many researchers have
used it in their work. A certain plant contains high cellulose is lemon grass. Studies have shown
that lemon grass has a high cellulose content, making it a potential source for bioplastic
production.It contains 20.46% cellulose content and 7.7% lignin content. In a study by Kruawan
et al., (2019), lemongrass-based bioplastic was investigated, and it was found to have a high
tensile strength and elongation at break. Another study by Arancon et al., (2017), suggested that
lemongrass oil can also be used as a plasticizer, which could improve the mechanical properties
of the bioplastic. According to Gadhave, Das, Mahanwar and Gadekarhe (2018) people who will
use it. Since it is made of agro/food resources, which includes the starch and cellulose, it is
considered to be safe material to be used by human in their food packaging.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Generally this study aims to create biodegradable plastic and determine the effectiveness
of Lemon grass as an alternative raw material for cellulose-based bioplastic,specifically it aims
to answer the following questions:

1.What are the chemical properties of Citronella as a bio-plastic?

3
 2. What is the effectiveness of Lemon grass in terms of :

A. Tensile strength

B. Water Solubility/ Water Absorption

C. Biodegradability

3.Is there any significant difference between the Lemon grass cellulose-based bio plastic
and the commercially available one?

HYPOTHESIS

Null Hypothesis : The Lemon grass cellulose based bio-plastic is not effective in terms of
water resistance,tensile strength,and the time it takes to produce or create.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The procedure is anticipated to be created between the months of January and June. The
study is going to be conducted at Purok 3, Tagas, Lag – on Daet, Camarines Norte.

DELIMITATION

The study is limited to evaluation of the performance of Lemon grass ( Cymbopogon

citratus ) as a cellulose-based bioplastic. The researchers wouldn’t be making a bioplastic
product. Hence, the researchers will only prove that Lemon grass could be use as a cellulose-
based bioplastic.

4
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study aims to contribute in creating new sources for the production of plastics that
are biodegradable also known as bioplastics using Lemon grass ( Cymbopogon citratus ). Vital
result of this study will be highly significant and beneficial to the following :

Consumers - As consumers,we use plastic in our everyday life from packaging,hence

using biodegradable plastic can reduce the impact of our usage in the environment.

Environment - As mentioned earlier,commercial plastics takes 200 to 500 years to

decompose creating a much bigger negative impact on our environment for every year.This
problem can be resolved with the use of bioplastic that take much smaller time to decompose.

Future Researchers - This research can provide future researchers information in

production of cellulose based bioplastic, furthermore they could also conduct experiments that
haven’t been yet conducted in this research study.

METHODOLOGY

The study’s organizational structure is presented in this chapter. It covers the following:
the research design, the sampling method, the research instrument, the materials and procedures,
and the data collection process.

5
RESEARCH DESIGN

This study will be quantitative in approach and the research design used will be single
group design.

For testing the durability and water resistance of the bio-plastic 1 group will be used. The
single group is the conventional plastic while the experimental group is the Lemongrass cellulose
bio-plastic.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

In this study, the survey questionnaire will be used as the study instrument. The
researchers will collect information and data from a variety of participants, allowing for a more
comprehensive investigation of the effectiveness of lemon grass as a cellulose-based bioplastic.

DATA GATHERING

To gather data,the researchers will conduct experiments for testing the tensile strength
and water resistance of the cellulose bioplastic.For the tensile strength,a spring scale will be used
for measuring the tensile strength of the bioplastic.For the water resistance,a timer will be used
to measure how many minutes will the bioplastic dissolve in water.

MATERIALS

For preparing the bioplastic cellulose film, lemon grass were collected in various areas or the
researchers’ residences. The glycerol-chitosan were used as a plasticizer and were bought from

________________ .The reagents and chemicals using in our study were such as chitosan,
glycerol, acetic anhydride, water, and beaker. The chemicals were purchased from
_______________ .

6
PROCEDURES

Extraction of Lemon grass Cellulose

The researchers extract the cellulose of lemongrass, you will soak it for 2 to 3 weeks
in a measure of water, 2 liters, after 2 to 3 weeks of soaking, you will see the fiber of
the lemongrass and wash it to remove the gummy substance from the lemongrass and
use acetic hydrolesis well be used for cellulose of extraction from the fiber and to
extraction of lemongrass we will used a hydrodistillation methods

Preparation of Bioplastic film

Evaluation of Bioplastic properties

Tensile strength
In the procedure of testing the tensile strength of Citronella as
bioplastic, the spring scale will be used for it to be measured. According to Michigan
Technological University (n.d.), to measure the tensile strength is to put weight on the
object and to see if there is a change on its physical structure. In this research study,
the researchers will also add weight on the Citronella based on bioplastic, and if it too
much stretched out and breaks apart, the bioplastic is not in the standard.

Water solubility/ water absorption

In the procedure of testing the water solubility of Citronella-based
bioplastic, a timer will be used to evaluate its durability. From the study of
Marichelvam, Jawaid, and Asim (2019), bioplastic based from corn and rice starch
are commonly soluble in water. Nevertheless, in this research study, the researchers
will look if the Citronella-based bioplastic is also soluble in water. From the method
that the researchers will conduct, they would like to see if the Citronella-based
bioplastic is fast or slow to dissolve in water.

7
 Biodegradability
According to Science Advice For Policy By European Academies
(2020), the plastics that people regularly using are thrown anywhere in the
environment, and it is toxic for the environment. Therefore, in this research study, the
researcher will get a facility to do the testing, and let the Citronella-based bioplastic
left in the area to be consumed by microorganisms. This is to see if the Citronella-
based bioplastic will break down after some time.