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<p>Conventional single-use plastics pose a significant environmental threat, yet envisioning a world without plastics or synthetic organic polymers remains challenging. Global plastic production in 2021 was projected to reach 390.7&#xa0;million metric tons, highlighting the pressing demand for sustainable alternatives. This research conceptualizes the development of sustainable plastic films derived from banana peels through the modulation of NaOH pretreatment concentrations, with the objectives of exploring the conceptualized impacts on their physical and mechanical properties. Films were fabricated using banana starch from two widely cultivated and starch-rich banana varieties, <i>Musa paradisiaca</i> (<i>M. paradisiaca</i>) and <i>Musa acuminata</i> (<i>M. acuminata</i>), to compare their responses to NaOH at 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations. The findings conceptually illustrate that increasing NaOH concentration from 1% to 3% results in a decrease in film thickness (0.770 to 0.460&#xa0;mm; 0.690 to 0.410&#xa0;mm), an increase in density (0.060 to 0.109&#xa0;g/cm³; 0.054 to 0.095&#xa0;g/cm³), and an increase in opacity (1.751% to 2.375%; 1.640% to 2.187%) for <i>M. paradisiaca</i> and <i>M. acuminata</i>, respectively. Optimal mechanical performance, characterized by improved tensile strength, is conceptualized at the 3% NaOH-treated plastic film (8.83&#xa0;kPa), whereas the lowest is observed in the 1% NaOH-treated plastic film (1.09 kPa). Essentially, the optimal properties obtained with 3% NaOH are likely due to enhanced fiber bonding and dispersion within the polymer matrix. These outcomes suggest a conceptual framework wherein the starch-based films’ properties can be modulated through precise NaOH treatment optimization, which renders them appealing alternatives for ecologically sustainable applications. However, fibers may deteriorate under excessive alkaline concentrations, and the present conceptualization is restricted to small-scale laboratory contexts, highlighting the importance of future studies to ensure a balance between structural integrity and performance in real-world applications, thereby paving the way for greener innovations.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Effects of NaOH Concentration on Sustainable Green Plastic Films Developed from the Banana Peels of Musa paradisiaca and Musa acuminata

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月3日

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  • Stephanie Yen Nee Kew

摘要

Conventional single-use plastics pose a significant environmental threat, yet envisioning a world without plastics or synthetic organic polymers remains challenging. Global plastic production in 2021 was projected to reach 390.7 million metric tons, highlighting the pressing demand for sustainable alternatives. This research conceptualizes the development of sustainable plastic films derived from banana peels through the modulation of NaOH pretreatment concentrations, with the objectives of exploring the conceptualized impacts on their physical and mechanical properties. Films were fabricated using banana starch from two widely cultivated and starch-rich banana varieties, Musa paradisiaca (M. paradisiaca) and Musa acuminata (M. acuminata), to compare their responses to NaOH at 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations. The findings conceptually illustrate that increasing NaOH concentration from 1% to 3% results in a decrease in film thickness (0.770 to 0.460 mm; 0.690 to 0.410 mm), an increase in density (0.060 to 0.109 g/cm³; 0.054 to 0.095 g/cm³), and an increase in opacity (1.751% to 2.375%; 1.640% to 2.187%) for M. paradisiaca and M. acuminata, respectively. Optimal mechanical performance, characterized by improved tensile strength, is conceptualized at the 3% NaOH-treated plastic film (8.83 kPa), whereas the lowest is observed in the 1% NaOH-treated plastic film (1.09 kPa). Essentially, the optimal properties obtained with 3% NaOH are likely due to enhanced fiber bonding and dispersion within the polymer matrix. These outcomes suggest a conceptual framework wherein the starch-based films’ properties can be modulated through precise NaOH treatment optimization, which renders them appealing alternatives for ecologically sustainable applications. However, fibers may deteriorate under excessive alkaline concentrations, and the present conceptualization is restricted to small-scale laboratory contexts, highlighting the importance of future studies to ensure a balance between structural integrity and performance in real-world applications, thereby paving the way for greener innovations.

Graphical abstract