Development of Cassava Starch-Based Bioplastic Films Reinforced with Jerbung Shrimp Waste Powder (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis de Man)

Abstract

Plastic waste is a major environmental concern because of its long-term persistence and slow degradation under environmental conditions. Bioplastics derived from renewable resources offer a potential alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. This study evaluated cassava starch-based bioplastic films prepared using five paired formulations in which increasing Jerbung shrimp waste powder (JSWP) content was accompanied by a proportional reduction in glycerol content. A completely randomized design was used to evaluate formulations containing 0, 0.33, 0.67, 1.00, and 1.33% JSWP, paired with 2.00, 1.67, 1.33, 1.00, and 0.67% glycerol, respectively, based on the total mass of the film-forming formulation. Film morphology, functional groups, and crystalline structure were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. SEM revealed relatively rough and heterogeneous film surfaces, while FTIR spectra showed bands associated with starch and amide-containing components derived from JSWP. XRD analysis indicated the disappearance of native cassava starch crystallinity after film formation and the appearance of diffraction peaks associated with JSWP components, confirming successful incorporation of the filler into the bioplastic matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that formulations containing more JSWP and less glycerol exhibited lower maximum mass-loss rates and greater residual mass at 600°C, with JSWP1.33 producing the highest residual mass among the composite films. Across the paired formulations, tensile strength and water resistance increased, whereas elongation at break and transparency decreased numerically. WVTR also showed a decreasing numerical trend, although differences in WVTR and elongation were not statistically significant. Among the evaluated formulations, JSWP1.33 exhibited the highest mean tensile strength, water resistance, thickness, and residual mass, together with the lowest mean elongation, transparency, and WVTR. These findings demonstrate the potential of paired JSWP–glycerol formulation as a strategy for increasing the strength and water resistance of cassava starch-based films (CSBF), although the independent contributions of JSWP and glycerol require further investigation.