1. AL-Bairaq
I am Discovering Materials
Biodegradable Materials
Thomson
Mariam Alkhulaifi Waad alnasser
Mariam Alajami Dana alhidose

2. Biodegradable
materials

3. Outline
• Introduction
• Activity 1: Comparing packing materials (part A&B)
• Activity 2: Hunting for biodegradable objects
• Activity 3: Processing biodegradable materials and comparing
their mechanical properties
– Part A: Processing gelatin into a gel and films
– Part B: Testing mechanical properties
• Activity 4: Measuring the degradation rates of biodegradable
materials
• Design Project: Designing a medicine release capsule
• Product Idea: Environment friendly plastic from banana peel

4. Introduction
What is the definition of Biodegradable?
Capable of being broken down (decomposed) rapidly by the
action of microorganisms. Biodegradable substances include food
scraps, cotton, wool, wood, human and animal waste,
manufactured products based on natural materials (such as
paper, and vegetable-oil based soaps). See also degradable and
photodegradable.

5. Activity 1 (A) Comparing Packing Materials
Results
• We tried the resistance of white foam and green foam.
• We placed an egg , but it was not concentrated in a specific place.
• The eggs were broken at the same time
The white peanut is
biodegradable material
made from corn starch
The green peanut is non-
biodegradable material
made from polystyrene

6. Activity 1 (B) Comparing Packing Materials
Objectives
Compare the effectiveness of different types
of packing materials
Procedure
1. Pack 2 eggs in 2 plastic bags and protect
with 2 different peanuts
2. Drop both plastic bags from different
heights until the egg is broken
Results & conclusion:
• Both packing materials provide the saus
protection
• Use the biodegradable packing material to
save the environment

7. Activity 2: Hunting for Biodegradable
Objects
Biodegradable: is any object that is
broken down quickly by natural force.
Non biodegradable: is any object
that is not broken down by natural
force but it needs chemicals to break
down.

8. Activity 3 Part (A) : Processing Biodegradable
Materials and Comparing Their Mechanical
Properties
Objectives
Make gelatin films and gel
Procedure
• We took three bowls then we added 5,10,20 capsules in the
each one then
Put HCl in three beakers and add to them different
concentration of gelatin capsule
(5%, 10%, 20%)
• we boiled them with heaker the temperature was 60 then we
mixed
• We when checking the dissolving .
Results
The low concentration dissolves more faster than the others.

9. Activity 4: Measuring the Degradation
Rates of Biodegradable Materials
Objectives:
Find the difference in degradation rate
between Biodegradable Materials
We used 2 solvents one of them is naoh and The
next one is HCL as you see in the photo

10. Activity 4: Measuring the Degradation
Rates of Biodegradable Materials
Material Boiling
water
pH=7
HCl
pH=4
NaOH
pH=1
5% 3 sec 60 sec 2:03
20% 4 sec 6:10 8:08
Gelatin
Capsule
12 sec 7:30 9:45
Packing
material
(Starch)
4.41 sec 5:07 5:47
0
2
4
6
8
10
5% 20% Gelatin
capsule
Starch
Boiling water HCl NaOH
Conclusion:
 All materials degraded faster in boiling water
 5 % film degraded faster (as concentration decrease,
degradation rate increase)
 Peanut Starch degrade the same in HCL and NaOH
(Not all media affect the degradation rate)

11. Design project: Designing a Medicine-Delivery Device
• Step 1: Make Alginate beads (represents capsule)
sodium alginate + calcium chloride
• Step 2: Soak in dye (represents drug)
• Step 3: Dye release (represents drug release in human blood)
put beads in sodium citrate.
Dye release (drug
release)
Biodegradation of
beads (capsules)
Results:
Step
1
Step
2
Step
3

12. Final Project:
Environment friendly plastic from banana peel
• Introduction and Rationale:
• Our project is about using banana peels in the production of bio-plastic as a
replacement of the traditional petroleum based plastic. In this project, We
developed a method for making plastic by using banana peels and found new
areas for the use of the plastic that we manufactured: using the bio-plastic in the
making of cosmetic prosthesis and in the insulation of cables. During the work on
the project, we were able to succeed in our endeavor to make plastic that can
actually be used in daily life.

13. • Aim of the work (objectives)
• Production of bioplastics from banana peel as a substitute for the conventional plastics
• To minimize pollution in the environment by the use of bioplastic
Final Project:
Environment friendly plastic from banana peel

14. • Can a method for using banana peels in the production of bio-plastic as a
replacement for the traditional petroleum based plastic be developed?
If we attempt to develop a method for using banana peels in the production of bio-
plastic, then we will succeed and manufacture bio-plastic from banana peels because
fruits rich with starch are preferred in the making of bio-plastic and the banana peel
is rich with starch
Environment friendly plastic from banana peel
Hypothesis

15. • The banana fruit’s peel is selected for the experiment as it is a waste material full of
starch
Environment friendly plastic from banana peel
Materials

16. • The peels of the bananas were removed using a stainless steel knife.
• A beaker was filled with water and placed over a burner.
• The banana peels were placed in the beaker and were boiled for 30 minutes.
• After the boiling process, the beaker was removed from the burner and the peels were
removed from the water and placed on and covered with a dry gauze pad, left to dry for
30 minutes.
• After the peels were dried, they were placed in a clean beaker.
Environment friendly plastic from banana peel
Procedure

17. • Using a hand blender, the peels were pureed until a fluid paste was formed.
• 25ml of banana paste was placed in each 50ml beaker.
• 3ml of HCl was added and the mixture was mixed using a glass stirring rod.
• 3ml NaOH was added and the mixture was stirred once more.
• The mixture was poured into a petri dish and put in the oven at 130°C. It was
baked for half an hour
Environment friendly plastic from banana peel
Procedure (continue)

18. • Plastic has formed, however it is extremely fragile.
• The layer of plastic is very thin (the thickness cannot be measured).
• There is less mixture than the amount that was put into the dish.
• The plastic started to decay after 1 day.
Environment friendly plastic from banana peel
Results

19. • Adding other materials to banana peels during processing will enhance the mechanical
properties for the outcome plastic
• We recommend to start to manufacture plastic out of food waste as there’re lots of food
waste everywhere that we don’t beneficial from
Environment friendly plastic from banana peel
Recommendation

20. Conclusions
During our journey in AL-Bairaq, we learned a lot about
biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials and the usage for
each type of them.
Our project helps limiting the use of synthetic plastic that cause
many negative effects to the environment using materials that
can be easily accomplished from every house.
We hope that with our knowledge, ideas, and project, we can
support our beloved country Qatar.

21. Acknowledgment
Many thanks to AL-Bairaq team from Center for Advanced
Materials (CAM), Qatar University for supporting us
during our journey with a AL-Bairaq.
Also, I would like to thank the sponsors UNESCO, Qatar
National Commission, and Shell.