Utilization of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) pod husk as fillers for bioplastic from Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seed starch with Ethylene Glycol Plasticizer

Bioplastic is environmentally friendly plastic designed to facilitate the degradation of enzymatic reactions of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. This research was aimed to obtain the effect of cocoa pod husk addition on mechanical properties of bioplastics included tensile strength, elongation at break, functional group using FT-IR, surface morphology using SEM and biodegradation. Cocoa pod husk is a filler in production of bioplastic research. The production of bioplastic method that used in this research was casting method. Variation of jacfruit seed starch and cocoa pod husk composition ratio were 5:5, 6:4, 7:3, 8:2, and 9:1 (w/w) and variation of ethylene glycol were 0,2; 0,25; 0,3; 0,35; and 0,4 (v/w). The best condition of bioplastic was composition ratio of jackfruit seed starch and cocoa pod husk 7:3 on addition of ethylene glycol was 0,2 (v/w) with tensile strength 15,40 MPa, elongation at break 1,24%. From the result of FT-IR analysis indicated O-H group, C-H group, C=O group and C-O group on bioplastics. The result of mechanical properties were supported by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed the bioplastic with cocoa pod husk as filler and ethylene glycol as plasticizer have the fracture surfaces were compact. From the result of biodegradation test, bioplastics was completely degradated within 14 days in the soil.