Structural-Optical Transformation of Milkfish Scales (Chanos chanos) into Chitin and Its Properties as Bioplastics Before and After Degradation

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Heryanto Heryanto, Dahlang Tahir, Mufti Hatur Rahmi, Abdul Rasak, Ahmed Akouibaa, Rachid Masrour, Mohd Ambri Mohamed, Asnan Rinovian, Suprapto Suprapto

2025 Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering Vol. 50 Issue 6 Article Cited by 6

Abstract

The level of plastic waste is already at an alarming level, so the demand for environmentally friendly and biodegradable materials such as bioplastics can be proposed as an effective solution. In this study, bioplastics were successfully made from chitin base material using fish scales (Chanos chanos) with extraction results reaching 33.1%. Bioplastic sheets were obtained by the steps of fish scale crushing, deproteination, demineralization, chitin solubilization, and molding. Changes in structural properties are indicated by a shift in the 2θ position (33.21∘→ 19.88∘) of X-ray diffraction peaks, a reduction in crystallite size distribution (33.5 → 8.5) in nm, and an increase in crystallinity index (27.41% → 29.54%) as a result of the transformation of fish scales into bioplastics. Fourier transform infra-red reveals meaningful tuning of the low electron loss function, narrowed vibrational phonons, and non-deep penetration depth which facilitates optical information of bioplastic to determine its surface properties as a packaging film. The appearance of cracks that were previously flat solid surfaces from the scanning electron microscope results indicates that the bioplastic degradation process occurs effectively in natural decomposers in the form of laterite soil. The degradation rate (≈ 0.0015 mm/h) has been reported, and simulations of the effect of volume and thickness differences have also been evaluated to customize bioplastics to conform to be standards, specified requirements, and suitable people's needs. © King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals 2024.

Affiliations

Physics Department, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90425, Indonesia; Fisheries Department, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia; Laboratory of Solid Physics, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco; Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronic (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, 43600, Malaysia; Research Center for Mining Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Lampung, 35361, Indonesia; Mechanical Engineering Department, State University of Medan, Medan, 44332, Indonesia