Como Hacer Plástico Biodegradable De Una Papa
By Faber Burgos Sarmiento
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.
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