Professional Documents
Culture Documents
VELARDE, Danielle
March 2016
Mr.Christopher O. Lumba
Research Adviser
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Case Study # 1
Abstract
spent by 28 college students is significantly lower than the national average of 7.5 hours,
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
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1.1 Background of the Study
In more than just one part of the world, pollution is the largest problem. Not only
the plants and animals are in danger due to inability to adapt, but also us humans who do
not realize the consequences of our actions. In the near future, if no effort was made to
save the endangered species, lots of plants and animals may become extinct.
items. Dangerous substances are often thrown in dumpsites, dumped in the oceans, or
incinerated.
Plastics are a big help to us so thats why we cannot just eliminate them because of their
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multiple uses. Since plastics are unable to degrade naturally, special measures are taken
to dispose them. However, simple disposal of plastics already creates a lot of problems
such as flood due to unwise disposal, and health defects due to inhalation of toxic
plastics (bioplastics). These plastics are easy to dispose because they can degrade after
some period of time. Since bioplastics are starch-based, they are very unlikely to cause
health problems.
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Green peas (Pisum sativum ) is a common addition to dishes in the Philippines. It
is a very good source of vitamin K, manganese, dietary fiber, vitamin B1, copper, vitamin
C, phosphorus, and folate. They are also abundant in vitamin B6, niacin, vitamin B2,
molybdenum, zinc, protein, magnesium, iron, potassium, and choline. The researchers
agreed to use green peas in the experiment because green peas, like corn and taro, have a
high starch content. Green peas are also commonly used is dishes but have limited use in
areas not involving cuisine. If the experiment is successful, then the green pea will have
The purpose of this study is to create a solid compact bioplastic, not a bioplastic
bag. The desired product should be similar to solid plastics like ball pen cases and the
like.
created from green pea starch. The researchers would like to come up with answers
1.3 Hypothesis
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If successful, the green pea bioplastic will be a safe and eco-friendly alternative to
plastic. It is much easier to dispose and although it is a kind of plastic, it will not harm
the environment because it is derived from organic and natural materials. The results
of this study would be valuable to the environment, to the farmers of the agricultural
biodegradability.
To the farmers. Propagating green pea as the main resources of this study
might be open. They can use this polymer in making products like plastic bags and
containers.
To the consumers. They could avail bioplastics that are not exposed with
harmful chemicals unlike most of the commercial plastics. They can ensure a healthy
To the future researchers. They can use the study as a reference for their
own study regarding bioplastics. They may use the views and other data in the study
friendly biodegradable plastic from green pea starch as tested by the researchers
conducting the study within March 21 to July 6 of year 2015 as scheduled. Only the
green pea vegetable was used. The product of this research is, of course, not
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ingestible and not for consumption. The brand of the blender that was used is Toyo
and the capacity of the measuring cup that was used is 160 ml.
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CHAPTER 2 : REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
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I. Environmental Pollution
Pollution is defined as the introduction of a foreign substance that has
environment. The adverse change in the world today is said to be the result of
rather than the more obvious physical destruction. Pollution occurs in all
habitats- land, sea and fresh water, and in the atmosphere. Much of what we
Any use of natural resources at a rate higher than natures capacity to restore
itself can result in pollution of air, water, and land. (Tara, 2009)
Air pollution is the contamination of air by gases, dust, fumes or odor in
harmful amounts. That is, amounts which could be harmful to the health or
comfort of humans and animals or which could cause damage to plants and
materials.
Outdoor air pollution is large and increasing a consequence of the
emissions, such as diesel soot particles and lead, and the products of
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cooking and heating with biomass fuels or coal produces high levels of indoor
pollution can lead to acute lower respiratory infections in children under age
five, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer in adults.
Indoor air pollution is responsible for 2 million deaths annually. Acute lower
killer of young children and this toll almost exclusively falls on children in
developing countries.
World Health Organization (WHO) is providing technical support to
pollutants such as daily garbage and toxic substances are directly or indirectly
compounds. Some consider that water pollution may occur from natural
causes including volcanic eruptions and algae blooms from natural causes
most problematic of water pollutants are microbes that induce disease, since
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unsuitable for supporting life. On rare cases, it may cause mutations on some
fish.
Land pollution is the degradation of the Earths surface caused by a misuse
set a series of events into motion which destroyed natural habitats and
polluted the environment, causing diseases in both humans and other species
of animals.
Deforestation and soil erosion is one that causes land pollution.
Deforestation carried out to create dry lands. Land that is once converted into
a dry or barren land, can never be made fertile again, whatever magnitude of
pollution. It can also seriously disrupt the balance of nature and in extreme
range of organic polymers that can be molded into shape while soft and then
set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. The term "plastic" derives from the
Greek "plastikos," meaning fit for molding, and "plastos," meaning molded. In
line with this root etymology, and in the broadest sense, a plastic is a material
that at some stage in its manufacture is able to be shaped by flow such that it
Plamondon, 2015)
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III. Biodegradable Plastics
Plastics that are able to degrade naturally are generally starch-based. These
starch-based varieties are known as bio-plastics and are derived from raw
materials such as corn and potato starch, so manufacturers claim they are
from non-renewable sources such as crude oil, and are processed using
plastics are buried in landfill, there is a limited supply of oxygen and water so
cracks. It weathers and sunlight makes it brittle. It falls apart; it degrades, but
only into smaller pieces of plastic. And that can take hundreds of years. But,
these additives break the long unnatural plastic polymers into shorter
landfill though there is no reason to assume that other additives could not be
specified conditions but the process will take much longer. So, to become
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is by no means a natural process as biodegrading is normally understood to be
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CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
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A. Preparation of Materials
The researchers bought glycerin from a local drug store and procured Green pea
(Pisum sativum) from a trusted source. To ensure the authenticity of the procured
vegetable, the researchers sought help from experts. After confirming that the fruit is
indeed Pisum sativum, they brought into the research laboratory for the extraction
process. A coffee filter was used to separate the starch from the water during the
extraction process. A measuring cup was used to measure the amount of water.
B. General Procedure
For the extraction of starch, 1 kilogram of green peas are washed. Per 500 grams, 300 mL
of water was added and blended until the mixture turns fine. A coffee filter was used to
strain off the cloudy water. The exracted starch was left under the sun for 72 hours to dry.
For the cooking of the plastic, 60 ml of cold water, 10 grams of green pea starch, 5 mL of
vinegar and 5 mL of glycerin was mixed in a non-stick pan. The mixture was stirred and
cooked on high heat for 5 minutes. The researchers left the cooked mixture under the sun
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CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
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The researchers were not able to produce a solid plastic because the cooked mixture was
not rubbery. Compared to the initial plan of the researchers to create a bioplastic from
gabi starch, the resulting cooked mixture was too pasty, making it unsuitable for making
bioplastics.
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CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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The researchers wanted to find if green pea (Pisum sativum) can be an alternative
material in making biodegradable plastics. The results of the biodegradability test show
that the green pea starch cannot be used as an alternative in making biodegradable plastic.
For the future researchers, the researchers recommend extracting the starch using
a finer strainer to prevent unnecessary materials from being mixed in with the starch.
Also, to make the cooked mixture more flexible and rubbery, the researchers recommend
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Research Plan
I. Rationale
A. Background of the Study
B. Statement of the Problem
This research is conducted to test whether green pea (Pisum
researchers will also test the durability of the bioplastic to see if it can
popular in the Philippines. Most of us use plastics that are hard to degrade
biodegradable plastics are the cornstarch plastic and potato plastic. The
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Thats why the researchers decided to create a biodegradable
The target readers are the daily consumers, such as shoppers who use
plastic nearly every day; and plastic manufacturers who can now create
A. General Procedure
The researchers will buy glycerin from a local drug store and procured
green peas (Pisum sativum) from a trusted source. To ensure the authenticity
of the procured vegetable, the researchers will seek help from experts. After
confirming that the fruit is indeed Pisum sativum, they will bring it to the
For the extraction of starch, 1 kilogram of green peas will be washed. Per
500 grams, 300 mL of water will be added and blended until the mixture turns
fine. A coffee filter and strainer will be used to strain off the cloudy water. The
For the cooking of the plastic, 60 ml of cold water, 10 grams of green pea
The mixture will be stirred and cooked on high heat for 5 minutes. The
researchers will leave the cooked mixture under the sun for 120 hours to dry.
B. Conceptual Framework
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III. Safety/Risk Assessment
The researchers will take into account the source from which the plant or
fruit was obtained. They will take basic precautionary measures during the
blending process so as not to injure anyone and lose or damage the materials. An
the extraction process. They will make sure to use sufficient amounts to avoid
delays in the making of the biodegradable plastic due to item insufficiency. The
accordingly.
V. Bibliography
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Making Biodegradable Plastics. Available: http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Potato-
Plastic!/step2/Optional-Extract-the-Starch/
plastics.net/posts/76/qaa-help-with-cornstarch-pla-plastic-project/
http://www.polyhedronlab.com/testing/chemical-resistance.html
center/plastic-properties.html
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