Virtual Booth

The increasing concern over plastic pollution has driven the development of biodegradable alternative using natural and renewable resources. Pumpkin waste was processed into a film forming solution and combined with natural polymers to enhance the flexibility and strength. The aims of this study to produce eco-composite films from pumpkin by-products such as peels and seeds by utilizing their natural polymers such ad cellulose, pectin and proteins. The films were prepared with peels and seeds and treated with acetic acid, glycerine, gelatine and cornstarch to enhance their chemical and mechanical properties. The findings show that within 8 days, both peels sample and mixed sample fully degraded while seeds sample partially degraded. For the swelling test, water revealed the highest swelling in the mixed sample. Next for the solubility test, the findings demonstrated that all the sample are soluble in ammonia NH3 and sulphuric acid H2SO4 yet insoluble in water, acetone and ethyl alcohol. Lastly, for tensile stress test, it shows that mixed sample had the highest strength compared to peels sample and seeds sample.