DISCUSSION

The functional groups are shown and determined in Graph ?. In set 1,only starch is
used. All functional groups belong to starch.
In set 2, starch, water and glycerol are used. at wavelength of 3308.49 that belongs
to O-H stretch, may come from starch, glycerol or water. , at wavelength of 2928.99
that belongs to C-H stretch, may come from starch or glycerol. at wavelength of
1410.10 that belongs to C-H bending or O-H bending may come from starch, glycerol
or water. at wavelength of 1366.90 that belongs to C-H bending or C-C stretch may
come from starch or glycerol. at wavelength of 1239.99 that belongs to C-O stretch,
may come from starch or glycerol. at wavelength from 1150.50 to 1015.17 that
belongs to C-O stretch or C-C stretch may come from starch or glycerol. at
wavelength of 996.92 and 926.90 that belongs to C-O stretch may come from starch
or glycerol. at wavelength of 850.60 that belongs to C-H bending may come from
starch or glycerol. at wavelength of 758.43 that belongs to C-H bending may come
from starch or glycerol.
In set 3, starch, water, glycerol, acetic acid and sodium hydroxide are used.at
wavelength of 3307.88 that belongs to O-H stretch, may come from starch, water,
glycerol, acid or base. at wavelength of 1637.71 that belongs to C=O stretch and
C=O stretch may come from acid. at wavelength of 1415.58 that belongs to C-H
bending may come from starch, glycerol, acid or water ; O-H bending may come from
starch, glycerol, acid, base or water. at wavelength from 1152.01 to 1020.69 that
belongs to C-O stretch or C-C stretch may come from starch, acid or glycerol.
In set 4, 5, 6 and 7, starch, water, glycerol, acetic acid and sodium hydroxide are
used. During the experiment some materials were changed and the other ones were
kept constant. According to results of FTIR analysis, functional groups depend on
their wavelengths are as same as set 3.
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 0.35

0.3

0.25
Absorbance

0.2

0.15
Set 1
0.1

0.05

0
800 1200 1600 2000 2400 2800 3200 3600 4000
Wavelength (cm-1)

Figure ?. FTIR spectra of unmodified starch

Set 4
0.3
0.25
Absorbance

0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
800 1200 1600 2000 2400 2800 3200 3600 4000
Wavelength (cm-1)

Figure ??. FTIR spectra of produced biodegradable film

To produce biodegradable film, weak acid is added to starch to break its

bonds. After this process, glycerol is added to solution. The aim is to use glycerol, the
flexibility and plasticizer of film increase. Glycerol is used for modifying the film.
Normally, water and starch can be polymer but it is not enough to be quality film
product. Instead of glycerol, urea and sorbitol can be used. Because of low pH,
bacteria that provide to dissolve in nature the film, cannot live in medium. Therefore,
the base should be added to solution. As shown Figure ??, set 4 is formed in this
way. According to comparison between Figure ? and Figure ??, by adding acid into
solution, the bonds are broken and the occurred numbers of peak are decreased.
 Figure ???. Polyvinyl Chloride

Figure ????. Infrared spectrum of PVC

(http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/ftir/a421.pdf)

PVC is the synthetic polymer and has O-H stretch bond, C-H stretch bond, C-H bending
bond, C-C bending bond and C-Cl bond. Each synthetic polymers have different functional
groups. If we compare between the produced biodegradable film and synthetic polymer
(PVC), wavelengths are close to each other. Because, they have same functional groups
except C-Cl. According to absorbance differences, index of crystalline is effected and
changed. CRYSTALLINE YORUM

In this experiment, glycerol is used as plasticizer. From second set to final set,
glycerol is added into the solution. Glycerol changes are in only set 3, 4 and 5 and other
parameters are stayed constant. Normally addition of glycerol is caused by decreasing of
index of crystallinity (CI) but these decreases could not be observed according to calculation
of index of crystallinity. In set 3, 4 and 5, the amounts of glycerol are 1, 1.5 and 2 mL,
respectively. In return this, index of crystallinity is 0.755, 0.97 and 1.06, respectively. Desired
purpose is to decrease CI by increasing amount of glycerol. However, this is not happened.
Plasticizers could reduce the intermolecular forces and increase the mobility of polymer
chains, therefore improving the flexibility and extensibility of the films.
Hsien Chen CH and Lai LS (2008). Mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of tapioca
starch/decolorized leaf gum films in the presence of plasticizer, Food Hydrocolloids 22(8)
15841595.
Plasticizers could reduce the intermolecular forces and increase the mobility of polymer
chains, therefore improving the flexibility and extensibility of the films. Nevertheless, the
addition of plasticizers also increases gas and water vapor permeability (WVP) of the film
generally, and could possibly decrease the mechanical strength of the film.
Gontard, N., Guilbert, S., & Cuq, J. L. (1993). Water and glycerol as plasticizers affect
mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of an edible wheat gluten film. Journal of Food
Science, 58, 206211.
Glycerol has greatest effect on the amount of water permeated through the film.
Nonetheless, high WVP of film without plasticizer could be due to microcracks in the film.
WVP of films is dependent on both solubility coefficient and diffusion rate of water in film
which is dependent on partial pressure of water vapor.
KESTER, J.J. and FENNEMA, O.R. 1986. Edible films and coatings: A review. Food Technol. 40, 4759.

Starch-based biodegradable plastics are economic, abundant and renewable. In laboratory

conditions, biodegradable films can be prepared. In this experiment, seven set is formed.
Due to through lack of acetic acid in set 2, glycerol could not affected to starch. Change of
amounts of glycerol is observed with other parameters are constant. All functional groups
belong to sets are determined by analysing FTIR. Produced biodegradable film is compared
with PVC and unmodified starch. Similarities are discussed between the produced film and
PVC. Some suggestions should be considered to reach the best results. For examples, to
avoid porosity, drying temperature should be low and drying time should be long. In this
experiment, films are dried about 105C during two hours. The time is not enough. Porosity is
not observed but the dry absolute amounts of films are not obtained in these premises. To
obtain gelled solution, two different heaters were used. Due to the difference, same
conditions could not provide for all set up.
NOMENCLATURE
A: Absorbance -
CI: Index of crystallinity -
V: Volume [mL]