Biodegradation Behaviour of Acetylated Manihot esculenta Crantz cv. TMS 92/0326 Starch-Based Bioplastics Films Reinforced with Rice Husk Ash Filler and plasticize with Sorbitol

Abstract This study investigates the biodegradability of acetylated Manihot esculenta Crantz cv. TMS 92/0326 cassava starch-based bioplastics reinforced with Rice husk ash and plasticized with Sorbitol. Starch was extracted from Manihot esculenta Crantz cv. TMS 92/0326 cassava variety and modified through acetylation, confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) by the appearance of a carbonyl (C=O) peak at 1740 cm⁻¹ in the FTIR spectrum. The results from the percentage yield of the extracted starch was high ( 85.2%), which is typical for starch extracted from such variety (TMS 92/0326). Modification by acetylation reduces the percentage yield to 79% ,this arises as a result of the substitution of hydroxyl groups with acetyl groups in the starch molecules. The films were prepared by varying the concentrations of Sorbitol (plasticizer) (2–5 g) and Rice husk ash filler (0–1 g). Biodegradability was evaluated using soil burial tests, and the films were found to degrade significantly within four weeks, with the formulation of 5 g Sorbitol and 0.g Rice husk ash filler showing the highest biodegradability at the third week, however all formulations reaches complete degradation at the end of the fourth week. These results indicate that the acetylated cassava starch-Rice husk ash composites offer a promising approach to sustainable, biodegradable packaging materials.