Extraction of a biodegradable polymer from second-grade cassava starch.

Cassava is one of the major crops produced in Costa Rica, and as one of the top exporters in the world, there is a lot of competition in its production. In the area of Siquirres, the farmers cultivate cassava as a means for exportation. However, farmers in this area have been losing over 40 % of their cassava harvest yield due to quality control regulations. For exportation purposes, first grade cassava is always the priority, where second and third grades are either sold at a very low price or the clients do not purchase it at all. The hard work and dedication invested into the cassava production without earning the anticipated benefit is quite a challenge and financial loss. The objective of this investigation is to characterize this second-grade cassava being produced in Siquirres according to its physiochemical properties and to extract its biopolymer for possible bioplastic production. The starch of the cassava contains many functional properties, rendering a wide variety of products for industrial and culinary purposes. One main characteristic of the cassava starch is the gel that is formed when heat is applied, and the mixture of this gel with other materials can produce a biodegradable plastic. There is a need now to reduce the use of plastic worldwide, and there are many companies that are now investing in biodegradable plastic to be more ecofriendly.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Carazo Badilla, Luis Enrique
Format:	info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Universidad EARTH 2021-12
Subjects:	ALMIDON DE CASABE (MANIHOT ESCULENTA), MANDIOCA, BIOPOLIMEROS, PLASTICOS, MANIHOT ESCULENTA, https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#4.01.01,
Online Access:	https://repositorio.earth.ac.cr/handle/UEARTH/197
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