Abstract
Biodegradable plastic was synthesized from the starch of yellow kepok banana weevil, and the effect of ascorbic acid concentration on its properties was evaluated. Chitosan was used for filler in a plastic network. Starch and chitosan have been used widely as materials for plastic due to their biodegradability and nontoxic effect. The mechanical properties include tensile strength, elongation, biodegradability, and water resistance to determine the quality of the plastic that has been synthesized. The result of FTIR spectroscopy analysis showed that the interactions between starch, chitosan, and ascorbic acid were hydrogen bonds and the ionic interaction of protonated amine in chitosan by the ascorbic acid. The elongation and biodegradability of the plastics were increased as the amount of ascorbic acid raised, whereas their tensile strength was decreased. The biodegradable test confirmed that obtained bioplastic could degrade by 25-66.67% in the soil for 6 days. Therefore, ascorbic acid is good as a plasticizer in starch-based plastic production.