Como Hacer Plástico Biodegradable De Una Papa

From Potato to Eco-Friendly Plastic: How To Do It

Key Concepts:

• Biodegradable plastic
• Potato starch
• Polymerization
• Acetic acid (vinegar)
• Glycerin
• Eco-sustainability

1. Potato Preparation and Starch Extraction:

• The process begins with peeling potatoes completely to remove all skin.
• The peeled potatoes are then cut into small cubes.
• The cubed potatoes are added to a blender with 300 ml of water and blended thoroughly.
• The blended mixture is strained to separate the liquid from the solid.
• The brown liquid on top is removed using a spoon and syringe, leaving the white mass (starch) at the bottom of the jar. This starch is the key ingredient.

2. Plastic Mixture Preparation:

• In a separate container, combine:
  • One spoonful of potato starch
  • Seven spoonfuls of water
  • Two teaspoons of white vinegar (acetic acid)
  • Two teaspoons of pure glycerin
• The mixture is stirred well.

3. Cooking and Drying Process:

• The mixture is transferred to a pan and heated over low heat.
• The mixture is stirred continuously until it becomes viscous, reaching a specific texture.
• Once the desired viscosity is achieved, the heat is turned off.
• The viscous mixture is poured onto a plate or flat surface and spread thinly with a spoon.
• The spread mixture is left to dry for four days.

4. Result and Coloring:

• After four days of drying, the material transforms into a plastic-like sheet.
• This sheet can be peeled off the plate, resulting in eco-sustainable or biodegradable plastic.
• Coloring can be added to the mixture before cooking to create plastics of various colors.

5. Environmental Benefits:

• Potato-based plastic decomposes much faster than petroleum-based plastics, which can take hundreds or thousands of years to biodegrade.
• This makes it a more environmentally friendly alternative.

6. Scientific Explanation:

• The molecules of the potato are ordered and polymerized by the acetic acid (vinegar) in the mixture.
• Glycerin also plays a crucial role in the polymerization process.

7. Bag Creation and Weight Testing:

• A small bag was made from the potato plastic to test its strength and durability.
• The bag, weighing 29 grams, was subjected to a series of weight tests.

8. Weight Test Results:

• The bag successfully held:
  • An apple (202 grams)
  • Two iPhones (approximately 400 grams)
  • A hard drive (222 grams)
  • A Power Man (295 grams)
• Finally, all items were placed in the bag, totaling approximately 917 grams (almost 1 kilogram).
• The bag held the weight, but showed signs of strain.
• It was inferred that a 26-gram potato plastic bag could likely hold up to 1 kilogram without significant issues.

9. Notable Quotes:

• "We realized that this plastic could withstand a lot of weight and we wanted to test it, so we made a small bag to see how resistant it was."
• "...for an eco-sustainable potato bag of 26 grams, it is probably no problem to lift a kilo of weight."
• "Perhaps it is a principle that can be used to save part of this world that really needs to leave those single-use plastics and rather transform them into plastics, why not, really, really friendly to the environment."

10. Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video demonstrates a simple method for creating biodegradable plastic from potatoes using readily available ingredients like water, vinegar, and glycerin. The resulting plastic, primarily composed of potato starch, offers a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics due to its faster decomposition rate. The weight tests performed on a small potato plastic bag showcase its surprising strength and potential for various applications, suggesting a viable path towards reducing reliance on single-use plastics and promoting eco-sustainability.