Risky Simarmata, Successfully Earned a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Technology Through Bioplastic Composites

Successfully Earning a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Technology, Risky combines taro tuber starch: carrageenan with a type of plasticizer (castor oil and stearic acid) and polyvinyl alcohol as a reinforcing agent to produce bioplastic composites. Risky Simarmata, who is often called Risky, has just won his bachelor's degree, namely Bachelor of Agricultural Technology (S.TP.) in the Agroindustrial Technology Study Program, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Udayana University in July 2023.

 

Risky's research was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Ir. Amna Hartiati, M.P. and Prof. Ir. Nyoman Semadi Antara, M.P. Ph. D. with the title “The Effect of Types of Plasticizers and Concentration of Polyvinyl Alcohol Strengthening on the Characteristics of Taro Starch Bioplastic Composites (Colocasia esculenta L) and Carrageenan. The research carried out was the manufacture of bioplastic composites by knowing the effect of the type of plasticizer (2 types of plasticizers namely castor oil and stearic acid) and determining the concentration of polyvinyl alcohol reinforcement to produce the best bioplastic composites. The type of plasticizer and the concentration of reinforcing agent in bioplastic composites are important factors in the process of making bioplastics to obtain the best soft, ductile and strong mechanical properties of bioplastics.

 

 

Risky reported that the best treatment obtained was a bioplastic composite using a stearic acid plasticizer with a concentration of 0.5% and a strengthening concentration of 15% polyvinyl alcohol with a tensile strength value of 6.16 ± 0.01 MPa; elongation at break, namely 4.97 ± 1.05% ; elasticity 126.76 ± 27.04 MPa ; Thick development was 24.06 ± 9.34% and the biodegradation time was on the 6th day. He also suggested "further research is needed to develop new formulations with hydrophobic types of plasticizers and other reinforcement materials so that they meet Indonesian National Standards and International Standards," he said.