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Recently, there has been considerable attention in the development of biodegradable plastic. Our current use and disposal of synthetic-based conventional plastics caused high rates of land-fill problems because of its persistence in the environment. Many renewable resources have been used as a source of starch and cellulose as bioplastic constituents. One of the most available biomasses that have not been explored is water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes). In the present study, we investigated the fabrication of biodegradable plastic made with a matrix of 3% and 5% mixture of starch and cellulose extracted from water hyacinth in different weight ratios of 10:0, 9:1, 8:2, and 7:3. The addition of water hyacinth cellulose was purposed as a reinforcing agent to improve the performances of the starch bioplastics. Chitosan with a matrix of 1% was also added to improve the mechanical function of starch bioplastic. There were two main steps performed to isolate water hyacinth cellulose, i.e., bleaching and alkali treatment. The chemical and physical characteristics of starch-based bioplastics and their composites were then analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the tensile strength and bioplastic degradation tests were also conducted to study the performance and biodegradability. The FTIR data shows that the functional group’s absorption revealed corresponds to the pure cellulose indicating the successful cellulose isolation from water hyacinth. The tensile strength of bioplastic starch- chitosan increases with the addition of water hyacinth cellulose. The improvement of the physical properties of bioplastic starch was achieved through the addition of chitosan and water hyacinth. The mixture of starch-chitosan combined with water hyacinth cellulose produces environmentally friendly bioplastics shown by the increased mechanical and physical properties compared to starch-alone bioplastic.

Isolasi selulosa dari tanaman Eceng Gondok (Eichornia crassipes) berhasil dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode bleaching diikuti dengan alkalinasi. Metode bleaching dilakukan menggunakan NaOCl dengan pengadukan dan pemanasan suhu rendah yaitu 80 oC selama 4 jam, diikuti dengan metode alkalinasi menggunakan NaOH dengan pemanasan pada suhu rendah yaitu 45 oC selama 3 jam. Penerapan metode bleaching dan alkalinasi ini bertujuan untuk delignifikasi dengan memutuskan rantai polimerik diantara selulosa dengan lignin atau hemiselulosa. Selain itu, proses oksidasi lanjut juga terjadi karena keberadaan HOCl dan OH- sebagai hasil peruraian NaOCl dan NaOH. Setelah pencucian hingga pH netral, hasil isolasi yang didapatkan adalah berupa serbuk putih yang secara fisis berbeda dari material awal sebelum perlakuan. Hasil rendemen berkisar 6 ─ 20% dengan penyusutan massa sebesar 80%. Analisa gugus fungsi hasil isolat dengan spektrometer Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) menunjukkan keberadaan serapan dari gugus hidroksil ─OH, ─C─H, =C─H, ─OH dan C=O (gugus karboksilat), C-H dan C─O, dan C─O─C pada cincin piranosa yang menguatkan keberhasilan isolasi selulosa. Berdasarkan observasi morfologi dan struktur dengan menggunakan scanning electron microscope (SEM), selulosa hasil isolasi berbentuk butiran kristal dengan ukuran mikrometer yang secara signifikan berbeda dari penampakan fisis serat awal sebelum perlakuan.Isolation of Cellulose Microfiber from Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) Waste by Bleaching-Alkalization Method. Cellulose isolation from water hyacinth plants (Eichornia crassipes) was successfully performed using bleaching followed by alkalization methods. The bleaching method was carried out using NaOCl with stirring dan heating at a low temperature of 80 oC for 4 hours. This method was then followed by an alkalization method using NaOH with heating at a low temperature of 45 oC for 3 hours. The application of the bleaching followed by alkalization method aimed to proceed the delignification by breaking the polymeric chain between cellulose dan lignin or hemicellulose. In addition, the process of advanced oxidation also occurred due to the presence of HOCl dan OH- decomposed from NaOCl dan NaOH. The solid was then washed until the pH of the solution was neutral. As results, the white powder solid was obtained which was physically different from the initial material before treatment. The yield obtained was around 6 ─ 20% with a mass shrinkage of 80%. Analysis of the functional groups of the isolates using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometers showed the presence of the hydroxyl groups ─OH, ─C─H, =C─H, ─OH dan C=O (carboxylic groups), CH dan C ─O, dan C─O─C on the pyranose ring that reinforces the success of the cellulose isolation. Based on morphological dan structural observations under a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the cellulose isolated was in crystalline granules in micrometer size which was significantly different compared to the physical appearance of the initial fiber before treatment.