Biodegradable film is defined as a film that can be recycled and can be
destroyed naturally. One of the polysaccharides that can be made biodegradable
films is glucomannan. Porang tuber flour has a hydrocolloid component
(glucomannan), which lacks the ability to protect the product against oxygen,
carbon dioxide and lipids and lacks the desired mechanical properties such as
less elastic and easy to tear, it is necessary to add Sorbitol which serves to
increase elasticity, reduce the risk cracking, tearing and destruction of the formed
biodegradable film. The purpose of this study was to determine the results of
using glucomannan from porang tubers as a biodegradable film with the addition
of 10% sorbitol.
This research is an experimental research. The research method was
carried out starting with multilevel washing using ethanol solvents with
concentrations of 50% and 80%, each washing 4 times, then the glucomannan
obtained was characterized, namely (organoleptic, moisture content, particle size,
and glucomannan content) with the addition of plasticizers. Biodegradable film
was made using 10% sorbitol as a plasticizer and continued with the tests,
namely swelling test, biodegradation test, and FTIR test. And descriptive data
analysis.
Test Results Characteristics of glucomannan consisting of organoleptic
test with visual observation consisting of taste (tasteless), odor (typical aroma of
flour) and color (brown white), water content of glucomannan flour obtained an
average of 9.34%, glucomannan content obtained 48.51% and biodegradable
physical properties obtained transparent brown film. Thickness test on
glucomannan film with the addition of 10% sorbitol concentration obtained an
average thickness of 0.19mm. The resulting swelling test for glucomannan films
with the addition of 10% sorbitol concentration obtained an average of 29.2%. For
the results of biodegradation of glucomannan with the addition of 10% sorbitol
concentration, it was degraded for 13 days..
Key words : Plasticizer, Biodegradable film, Glucomannan, Multi-level washing.