The development of environmentally friendly bioplastics is an interesting research area nowadays. Potato peel starch-based films reinforced with banana pseudostem cellulose (BPC) at different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30% wt) on a dry basis were developed. Cellulose from dried banana pseudostem was obtained by alkali delignification and bleaching. The films were produced by casting and oven-drying the gelatinized mixture of potato peel starch, BPC, and glycerol (plasticizer) at constant weight in all the films. Physiochemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the films were determined. The films were also characterized morphologically and structurally, including the soil burial method for biodegradability. An increase in BPC concentration improves the physicochemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the films. The film with 10% BPC has the least moisture content of 18%, has the best mechanical properties (tensile strength of 9.20 MPa, modulus of 188.93 MPa, and elongation at break of 8.66%), and has maximum thermal stability (TGA 270–285 oC and DTA 377 oC). A film containing 30% BPC has the highest opacity and thickness, also with a maximum DTA of 377 oC. Surface morphology revealed a smoother surface of the films as the concentration of BPC increased, and functional groups identified showed good interaction among the components of the films. All the films were completely biodegraded within 12 days. This study has shown that incorporation of cellulose powder into starch-based bioplastics gives better bioplastic films as a substitute for petroleum-based plastics.

Keywords : Pseudostem, Plasticizer, Delignification, Bioplastic