Green Synthesis and Characterization of Bioplastic by Gelatin and Agar

Abstract

The rising concern over environmental pollution caused by plastic waste has accelerated the search for sustainable alternatives. Bioplastics, produced from renewable resources, present a promising substitute to conventional petroleum-based plastics by offering biodegradability and reduced ecological impact. This study investigates the green synthesis and characterization of bioplastics prepared from natural biopolymers—gelatin and agar—blended with starch to improve their degradability. Glycerol was incorporated as a plasticizer to enhance flexibility and ensure the material remained fully biodegradable. The bioplastics were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify functional groups and analyze their chemical structures. FTIR confirmed the presence of characteristic groups such as O–H, C=O, and C–H, validating the polymeric framework of the synthesized materials. Biodegradability tests were performed through soil burial experiments, which monitored the decomposition of samples over a seven-day period. The results demonstrated that gelatin-based bioplastics exhibited the fastest rate of biodegradation, followed by agar–starch blends. These findings emphasize the potential of gelatin–agar–starch formulations as environmentally friendly materials with promising applications in packaging, biomedical devices, and other industries where sustainability is essential. However, challenges remain in enhancing durability, mechanical strength, and cost-efficiency for large-scale commercialization. Further research is necessary to optimize these parameters and make bioplastics a practical, competitive alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. Overall, the study highlights that bioplastics synthesized from natural polymers can serve as viable substitutes, providing both functionality and ecological benefits while addressing the urgent issue of plastic pollution.