Revolutionizing Invasive Kudzu into a Sustainable Bioplastic

Overview

The question investigated was if kudzu bioplastic is durable and if it will degrade at a faster rate than corn starch bioplastic. The hypothesis stated that kudzu bioplastic would be durable but corn bioplastic would degrade at a faster rate. The materials used were vinegar, kudzu starch, water, corn starch, heat (stove), glycerine, and 2 boxes filled with equal amounts of soil. The experiment was conducted by mixing 7 parts water, 1 ½ part glycerine, 1 part kudzu/corn starch, and 1 part vinegar. The mixture was heated over the stove for 1 minute. The plastic was cut into four equal pieces and placed in a box of soil for thirty days, and measured at increments of 10 days. The results were that kudzu bioplastic was more durable than the corn bioplastic, and the corn bioplastic degraded at a faster rate. Further experiments that could be conducted are a larger variety of bioplastics investigated. Different environmental conditions could also be investigated. This experiment was relevant to the world today because there is a need for the control and use of invasive species. Also, a sustainable, durable, degradable plastic is needed to replace the traditional crude oil based plastic that does not biodegrade.

Competition history

• AJAS 2020 Category not listed

Related projects

Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.

Browse more like this

• AJAS None projects
• Every AJAS 2020 project