Enhancing the performance of bioplastic with Malaysian herbs: hibiscus flower (hibiscus Rosa- sinensis) and moringa leaves (moringa oleifera) / Nurul Yasmina Binti Bakarudin

Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology

Final Year Report (Bachelor of Chemical Engineering Technology) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah - 2025

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Plastic is a widely used material found in most modern consumer items. Over 280 million tonnes of plastic are processed yearly, and the vast majority end up in landfills or the oceans. Plastics have several purposes in both industrial and commercial products and are a valuable resource due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties. The large-scale manufacturing of fibres and resins has risen globally because of strong community demand. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), emissions of greenhouse gases, which contribute to environmental issues like the greenhouse effect, are a growing global concern. One of the ways to combat global warming is with biomaterials like biofuels and bioplastics. The researchers created biodegradable films for green packaging using hemicellulose from discarded fruit bunches made of palm oil to lessen the environmental effect of distinct types of garbage. The objective of this study was to produce bioactive plastic incorporated with local herbs extracts Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Moringa oleifera leaves consisting of antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The findings highlighted the superior antimicrobial activity of Moringa oleifera, as indicated by its larger inhibitory diameter in the agar diffusion test. Additionally, Moringa oleifera demonstrated higher peak tensile strength at a 7% concentration compared to Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. The bioplastic film incorporating Moringa oleifera essential oil exhibited enhanced load-bearing capacity until failure and a notable increase in elongation percentage, especially when compared to Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. FTIR absorption peaks for both essential oils were observed, indicating the presence of phenolic compounds. Furthermore, water uptake analysis revealed that Moringa oleifera displayed hydrophobic properties with a decrease in water uptake as herb extract concentration increased, whereas Hibiscus rosa-sinensis exhibited an increase in water uptake, suggesting hydrophilic properties. These properties contribute to the films' solubility characteristics. For Calorimetry analysis, both Moringa oleifera and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis bioplastics showed an increase in the temperature required to reach a steady state as the concentration of herbal extract increased. The maximum recorded temperature for Moringa oleifera was 35.3°C at a 7% v/w concentration, while for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, it reached 32.5°C at 3% v/w concentration. Considering the overall results, Moringa oleifera appears to be a more promising candidate for producing bioplastics, exhibiting superior antimicrobial properties, higher tensile strength, hydrophobic characteristics, and favorable thermal behavior.